Immigrant Benefits

Re “GOP Plan Would Deny Social Benefits To Some New Citizens,” (July 25): As the daughter of a naturalized citizen who arrived penniless in the U.S. and yet still managed to become a lawyer and CPA recognized as an authority on U.S. tax laws; as the wife of a naturalized citizen who has had to redo his medical training here and is now completing a very competitive sub-specialty, and as a former ESL instructor who has worked with immigrants and foreign students most of my life, I have rarely, if ever, seen an immigrant who has come here “for the sole purpose of obtaining federal help.”

The immigrants of today may take longer to contribute to this country’s prosperity because they are, as a whole, less educated when they arrive than former groups. But in time, they will also work their way up if given half a chance. No one ever makes the decision to leave their country, their family, their way of life (no matter how poor) for a free ride.

I believe we must control and limit immigration. But once immigrants arehere, we have the obligation to provide them with medical care and educate them and give them full rights so that they can, as soon as possible, make a contribution to our economic and social way of life.

SUZANNE SALIMBENE

Hawthorne