Outside of the fact that this article uses the correct terminology i.e. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS....this is a huge assault on America and Americans! We Americans are being reduced, according to the WSJ, to the world's lowest common denominator!

What Kind of Immigrants Do We Want?

April 17, 2008

With America's attention focused on relief for homeowners facing foreclosure, the case of Andrezj Derezinski, ordered to leave the U.S., vividly reminds readers that illegal immigrants are another vulnerable group in America ("Return Flight: Visa Violators Swept Up In Widening Dragnet," page one, April 10). They are also arguably more deserving of relief, can be easily assisted and are an asset to the country.

Granting legal residency to the millions of illegal immigrants requires no multibillion-dollar government bailout. It involves making the decision to allow people to pursue their dreams without government interference. Furthermore, legalizing these individuals and moving toward a policy of unrestricted immigration would benefit our country by providing an energetic population of largely young residents who would fully contribute to society without the fear of deportation.

The late economist Milton Friedman recommended unlimited immigration, as long as newcomer access to government benefits was limited for several years. This overhaul of immigration laws would also allow local and federal law-enforcement agents to focus on apprehending terrorists and criminals rather than hardworking families like the Derezinskis, and reverse the growing intrusion of law enforcement into people's lives as part of the effort to locate illegal immigrants.

Finally, those deemed illegal immigrants have no less right to be in this country than native-born Americans. As R. George Wright of Indiana University has argued, the only difference between these two groups is that native-born Americans have had the "undeserved good fortune to have been born in the United States."

Joel Newman
Vancouver, Wash.

Mr. Derezinski's story is a vivid illustration of the absurdity of current immigration laws. The circular argument that all illegal immigrants should be thrown out because they are here illegally begs the question why pursuing the American dream is illegal to begin with.

It is not Mr. Derezinski but the laws that prohibit him from continuing to live in the house he owns with his American-born children that are alien to the core values of American society.

Radu Costinescu
Washington

Notwithstanding Mr. Derezinski's honorable efforts in achieving the American dream, his results are at the expense of violating a most basic law. While he should be applauded, I guess, for paying his taxes and keeping a job, nothing is mentioned of the cost of pursuing a fugitive of the law for more than a decade. In the end, it appears that Mr. Derezinski gets it, as all of us should: There are consequences to our decisions despite our most honorable intentions.

Rick Rodriguez
Danville, Calif



http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120839636448821695.html