Immigration Reform
The article “Border Patrol Strays From Border in New Enforcer Role” (April 21) leads the reader to a premature conclusion: that the Border Patrol would spend its time better by doing what it does best. There seems to be several missing steps in the reportage.
First, understaffed government agencies always end up with compromised results. The Border Patrol is not unique in this regard.
Second, Congress realized that the Immigration Reform and Control Act was imperfect when passed. The idea was to get something on the books. Now, we have a record of successes and failures and research is under way to provide Congress with information on how to fine-tune this legislation. The next congressional review is in 1992.
Finally, IRCA represented a political trade-off, part of which included providing amnesty to undocumented persons and sanctions to employers who were out of compliance with this new law. It would be unfair to unwind only one part of this deal (employer sanctions) without giving it a fair chance.
JOSEPH NALVEN, San Diego
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