To the Editor:
Re “Immigration Hardball” (editorial, Nov. 15):
America has a wonderful tradition of welcoming newcomers. We admit more than one million legal immigrants every year, almost as many as all other countries combined. But immigration policy should put Americans first. Enforcing current immigration laws does just that.
Your editorial states that an enforcement-minded approach to preventing illegal immigration “mocks American values,” but the opposite is true. In fact, enforcing the current laws against illegal immigration is consistent with the ultimate American value—the rule of law.
And doing so will reduce taxpayer costs for health care, education, social services and criminal justice. And it could open up the seven million jobs currently held by illegal immigrants for American workers and legal immigrants.
Paying less in taxes and providing additional jobs for Americans hardly “mocks American values.”
Lamar Smith
Washington, Nov. 17, 2010
The writer, Republican of Texas, is the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee.
Note from KBJ: Talking to the editorial board of the New York Times about illegal immigration is like talking to a wall. Just today, the board smeared opponents of illegal immigration by referring to them as "anti-immigrant." This is dishonest and offensive; but it's typical of progressives, for whom the end (opening our borders) justifies the means.
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 