Darrell West's "We
Need an Einstein Immigration Policy" (op-ed, July 16) misses the
point of why so many Americans oppose immigration today. We understand
the benefits of standards-based immigration along the lines proposed in
the article. It is the massive invasion of our southern borders by
standards-free immigrants that is encouraging our wrath.
I suspect an immigration
policy based on enforcement, America's long-term needs, and the
incorporation of rigorous standards as implied by the author's "Einstein
Principle" would eliminate the cynicism.
David P. Bour Sr.
Cupertino, Calif.
Opposition to a
skills-oriented, legal immigration policy is, oddly enough, most likely
to come from the same groups on the left which scream when any efforts
are made to seal America's borders. Immigration, legal or illegal, is a
humanitarian issue for progressives; shifting the immigration focus to
national "self-interest in innovation and long-term economic
development," as Mr. West recommends, will only confirm that capitalist
America is again driven by exploitation rather than compassion.
Those of us who strongly
favor more legal immigration, particularly for immigrants who will add
to America's prosperity, want the borders sealed first.
The primary problem, as Mr. West sees it, is that today's
immigration policies focus attention more on costs than benefits. At the
heart of the controversy and frustration is a perceived lack of desire
or will in Washington to stop illegal immigration. It will be much
easier to develop a rational and generous policy for legal immigration
when the illegal flow is arrested through effective border security and
real enforcement of existing immigration laws. After that, a broad-based
coalition can be assembled to enthusiastically support a brain-gain
policy that helps make America more prosperous and better able to
accommodate the tired, poor and huddled masses of the world as well.
Tim Livingston
Alexandria, Va.
Albert Einstein's father
Hermann's small electrical business failed in 1877. Enrico Fermi's
father worked on a railroad as an inspector. Edward Teller was born into
an affluent Jewish family in Budapest. Mr. West uses the above as
examples of desirable immigrants.
Based on their fathers'
humble beginnings, only one of the three geniuses mentioned, Edward
Teller, might have cut the mustard and have been admitted with his
parents.
Al Ujcic
San Francisco
With unemployment
consistently around 10%, one has to question why we need to hire any
immigrants at all. Are there really not enough smart Americans to do the
work that Mr. West talks about?
Chuck Brogan
Drums, Pa.
Mr. West applauds Canada
for admitting 265,000 immigrants each year and points out that the
rationale behind this policy is the fact that "people see how newcomers
strengthen the national economy."
Canada's enthusiasm for
immigrants, unlike America's, isn't blunted by millions of illegal
aliens offsetting its brain gain with financial and economic drain. The
present negative impact of illegal immigration, unwanted by so many
Americans, is massive and flows throughout our country, not just through
our southern border states.
Ron Michaels
Tucson, Ariz.
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 