Immigrants were invited
Daniel Johnson • Watertown • March 12, 2008

A recent letter in the Argus Leader describes as racist the raising of objections to illegal immigration.

The actual historical experience of the 19th and early 20th centuries offers an interesting contrast to today's experience. First, the immigrants came at the invitation of the American government, and each immigrant had to follow specific guidelines on entry to the nation. It also should be noted that most of the immigrants came with an educational and skill level on par with the established American population.

In addition, no social programs existed other than those offered by the churches and fraternal organizations. Americans were not faced with higher taxes as is happening now along our southern border because of the burden placed by illegal immigrants on the infrastructure of hospitals and schools.

No one nation sent such large numbers that the language and culture became stressed in an effort to accommodate. Furthermore, unlike Mexico, there was no attempt by any nation to resolve its own economic problems by exporting its population.

In that both the Democrats and Republicans gain by the influx of Hispanics, there probably will be no serious impediments to future illegal border crossing. The Democrats increase their voter block while the Republicans feed their corporate partners with cheap labor.

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