Little Empathy for an Illegal Immigrant

I appreciated Michael Quintanilla’s story, “I Choose to Be Here. Illegally” (Nov. 28), which offered a positive portrayal of a Mexican illegal immigrant, “Pablo,” as hard-working, sincere, ambitious and unwilling to take advantage of the American medical and welfare benefits.

Understanding that there are many like Pablo is valuable and helps to counteract the negative stereotype of illegals, which contributes to increasing anger and racism in Southern California.

It seems to me, however, that the between-the-lines message you convey is that illegal immigration should be tolerated blindly because many who come north are deserving, decent human beings who are seeking a way out of deplorable conditions.

A far more sensible solution, for Mexicans and Americans alike, is to modify our immigration policy or find ways to improve the Mexican economy, or both. The misguided idea of simply tolerating or even encouraging unregulated illegal immigration does a disservice to Californians as well as to those who penetrate the country, only to have to live in fear of discovery and relative poverty once they arrive.

SUZANNE M.R. LAKE

Pasadena

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We continually read in the press that illegal immigrants are good, hard-working people who just want the best for their families. And when they begin their journey north, they are always embarking on an “odyssey.”

OK, fine. I don’t know a single person who thinks illegal immigrants are evil. But what about those people who wait for years to come to this country legally? Apparently these are your lazy, timid types who don’t care enough about their families to have odysseys.

Or maybe they respect American law.

TOM ANDRES

Santa Barbara

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Does “Pablo” expect cheers and admiration because he does not receive food stamps, does not live in public housing and does not get free medical care?

There are millions of hard-working, law-abiding Americans in low-income jobs who also receive no government aid but do something Pablo does not: They pay state and federal taxes on their earnings.

If Pablo dreams of being an American citizen, he needs to learn what citizenship demands.

ARMIDA T. BOLTON

Los Angeles

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Your article should finally dispel the myths that illegal immigrants take jobs Americans don’t want and that employer sanctions discriminate against the foreign-born.

Pablo earns $340 a week. A legal resident would have to be paid $463.53, from which $123.53 would be deducted in taxes in order to take home the same $340. But Pablo doesn’t pay taxes. His employer doesn’t contribute to the benefit of our country and merely lines his own pockets.

Although Pablo works 10-to-11-hour days, six days a week, he is not alone. The days of the nine-to-five jobs are gone. Many working Americans are holding down second and third jobs in order to survive.

Americans are losing their jobs and their homes and sometimes their families.

Like Pablo, Americans have had dreams. But the American Dream is fading fast. Pablo’s government failed him, and our government has failed us. Perhaps only Pablo can afford to dream.

DANIELLE ELLIOTT

Los Angeles-area coordinator

Federation for American Immigration Reform

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“I Choose to Be Here. Illegally” is a prime example of the hypocrisy surrounding arguments that illegal immigrants pay their way in the economy.

The article’s subhead proclaims, “Pablo does not receive food stamps. He does not live in public housing. He does not get free medical care. He’s a living portrait of a hard-working immigrant who dreams of becoming an American citizen.”

The subhead should also have said that Pablo pays no federal or state income taxes or Social Security taxes.

Pablo earns $340 a week working at a dry cleaners. He is always paid in cash. Pablo’s two friends, Elida and Lola, apparently also illegal immigrants, both earn between $200 and $300 a week. They too are paid in cash.

Another friend, Lorenzo, also illegal, works in a leather handbag factory and earns $280 a week. He is paid by check, but according to your article no taxes are withheld.

The tax abuses described in this article are precisely why hard-working, tax-paying Californians are becoming very concerned about the flood of illegal immigrants into the state.

ROBERT L. GETTS

Glendale

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So Pablo does not receive food stamps. He does not live in public housing. But Pablo does create serious problems within our society.

“He gets paid in cash each week.” Are appropriate taxes being withheld?

“He works 10 and 11-hour days wiithout overtime or benefits.” Is his employer being cited?

If Pablo gets hurt on the job or becomes ill and cannot work, he will be treated at a hospital and who will pay the bill?

Pablo is taking a job away from a legal resident. His employer is unfairly competing with businessmen who obey the laws.

We must begin to correct all aspects of illegal immigration: control the borders, deport illegals and fine or imprison dishonest employers.

ROSEMARY WISNER

Sierra Madre