Poll on Illegal Immigration

In response to “Majority in State Are Fed Up With Illegal Immigration,” Sept. 19:

It is no surprise that your recent poll shows that opposition to illegal immigration has reached a fevered pitch. Emotionalism is peaking through a combination of policy proposals that focus attention on immigrants rather than economic recovery, and media coverage that is often limited to simplistic statements or flashing images of Mexicans and Chinese entering under cover of night.

The anti-immigrant feelings among Californians are undeniable, but two points are also clear from the poll. First, race is still a critical issue in immigration matters: 70% of the sample found it difficult to distinguish between documented and undocumented immigrants. Implicitly, color of skin--not actual immigration status--guides public opinion.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, the voices of immigrants themselves are conspicuously missing from the public discussion on immigration. Only 12% of the sample in your poll were foreign-born. By only rarely using Spanish, and never using Asian languages, polls can systematically exclude recent immigrants and silence large segments of the population.

A recent poll of Latinos in California--commissioned by Spanish-language media, but virtually unnoticed by the mainstream--contained a sample that was one-half U.S. citizen and one-half non-citizen. Among its findings: 77% agreed that politicians are using the illegal immigration issue to cover up the real problems and difficulties confronting California.

Immigrants do have opinions on immigration, as well as other important matters. Both our elected officials and the media must take responsibility for ensuring that rational--and inclusive--discussion determines how we approach the complex choices that lie ahead.

ANGELO ANCHETA, Exec. Director, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles

Being a foreigner myself, I read with great interest the article about illegal immigration. I came to this country 20 years ago, adapted to the American culture and have enjoyed it since. If one doesn’t learn the English language and adapt to the American way, misunderstanding and a lack of communication will only create tension, frustration and hatred among people.

The streets in California are no longer paved in gold. Just take a look in the mornings at the increasing number of day workers all lined up at many corners of the city, waiting in vain to be offered a job. Many of them, frustrated and poor, resort to crime or join one of the many gangs. Many continue to produce more children just to be able to live off their child support, incapable of raising and educating their children correctly. We are supposed to contribute to our country when we move here, not bleed it dry.

If the state of California allows this trend to continue, it will undoubtedly saturate and drown itself to disastrous and destructive proportions.

ANDRE LANDZAAT, Malibu

No one seems to know or at least report that all illegal aliens are not from Central America and Mexico; they are the most visible. Others are citizens of England, France, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries with “charming accents.”

Although many people from these and other countries are legal and hold a green card, others are not. These are the illegal aliens who take jobs from U.S. citizens and legal residents. They “blend in” and hold good-paying jobs--from legal secretary to engineer, among other professions.

I don’t know any U.S. citizens who are unemployed farm laborers. Those friends and family who are unemployed include engineers, lawyers, legal secretaries and a math professor.

How many people who applied for amnesty were citizens of developed countries? How did they earn a living here?

COLETTE M. MEYER, Redondo Beach