Wilson and Mexico

Re “Making Up With Mexico,” editorial, Feb. 1: Why does The Times continue to malign former Gov. Pete Wilson regarding his stand on illegal immigration? The people voted for the propositions that were undermined by a single judge.

Wilson was never against anyone who entered the country legally and only agreed with the people’s choice. Your paper has consistently used the wrong term for illegal immigrants, referring to them as “immigrants.” The term “racist” is used too often whenever anyone disagrees with any reference to illegal immigration, regardless of their country of birth.

R.A. D’ANDREA

Anaheim

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I believe the governor, his people and the press misunderstand who were the people affected by the policies of Wilson. They were not the Mexican president nor the industrial elite of Monterrey. The healing must take place in California, with all the Mexicans who live, work and pay taxes here. Documented and undocumented.

We are the ones offended and harmed by the policies of the Wilson administration. Ask the thousands of Mexicans who are unable to obtain a mere identification card or driver’s license from the DMV. Ask them, when they have to pay extortion money to blood-sucking companies that charge fees as high as $50 for cashing a $900 paycheck, or the same amount for transferring $300 or $400 to Mexico. (If they had an official ID, they could open a bank account.)

If Gov. Gray Davis really wants to start a healing process, the first thing he should do is to lessen the requirements for a California ID or driver’s license, as it used to be eight years ago. Why should anyone of brown color be required to show proof of legal residency or citizenship when applying for an ID? Whites don’t.

E. PARAMO HERNANDEZ

Sacramento