Screen All Immigrants Coming Into the U.S.

In Wednesday’s Times, reference is made to the fact that President Bush is pushing a congressional bill allowing illegal residents to stay. Once again Bush, in his compassionate glory, is supporting something that law-abiding citizens reject wholeheartedly as unfair, among other things. His only concerns in supporting this bill are for future votes and for political purposes, for his meeting with the president of Mexico shortly.

I can best sum it up in the words of Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-Va.), who, in a floor speech this week, denounced the immigration proviso as amounting to “amnesty for hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens, many of whom have not undergone any, any, background or security check, and who pose a dangerous risk to our border security.” The Senate must not allow this to happen.

William P. Mouzis

Lake Balboa

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Re “Wedge Out Immigrant-Bashing,” Commentary, March 20: So, Richard Bond laments the fact that “immigrant bashers” have had a field day since Sept. 11? We “bashers” lament the fact that so many had to die due to unregulated borders. Also, this basher--xenophobe, extremist, hater or whatever the “tolerant” left calls me--vents his anger at illegal immigrants. “Remember California’s Proposition 187?” Bond asks. Yes, I do. It passed overwhelmingly. It specified illegal immigrants. Oh, and why is wanting to follow the law so “divisive”? It is the illegal-alien supporters who are divisive.

And just what is a “law-abiding” illegal immigrant, as Bond calls them, anyway? Is it those who merely illegally cross our borders, illegally work here, illegally use false documents but otherwise follow the law? The Republican Party is going to disappear if it makes illegals into legals. The immigrants will vote Democrat and many Republicans will flee the party and vote independent. All immigrants must be screened for character, health and job prospects before being allowed in. If not, we will become a Third World nation.

James Fisler

Costa Mesa