Racial Unrest and Immigration

In his article Mike Davis (Opinion, May 3) condemns the efforts to reduce the flow of illegal aliens across our border. He should be reminded that there is a program for legal immigration. Has he considered the effect that these masses of uneducated people are making on our social programs? They depress the wage base of the lower paid jobs and take away jobs from Americans. Also, we have enough poverty without importing it.

A change in the law that allowed the offspring of illegal aliens to be granted citizenship is long overdue. I have read that no other Western nation grants citizenship to the children of illegal aliens.

It is significant that over 1,000 of the looters arrested in the riot were illegal aliens. Why should we not seal our borders? The immigration laws should also be revised. The present system of giving preference to relatives virtually eliminates the immigration chances of people with much needed skills. This provision should be limited to spouses and children. When people immigrate, they have already made the decision to separate from their parents and siblings. It is not the responsibility of Americans to reunite them. I wonder how many Americans are aware of the SSI benefits given to the elderly parents of some of these immigrants? It is not a well-publicized fact.

DANIEL DEVEREUX, Hacienda Heights