Looking at Immigrants’ Harrowing Journeys

The first three installments of “Enrique’s Journey” (Sept. 29, 30 and Oct. 2) have been heart-wrenching for me to read. The story puts a very human face on the tragedies from illegal immigration. So many beatings, rapes and deaths could be avoided if the U.S. did not implicitly encourage people to sneak across our borders.

I hope that this series will change the opinions of the hypocrites who claim to be pro-immigrant yet support policies that encourage people to come here illegally. Discouraging illegal immigration, through effective enforcement of immigration and employment laws, would save lives.

James Seidman

Naperville, Ill.

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I’ve been waiting eagerly to see the response from readers regarding Enrique’s story, and they did not disappoint (letters, Oct. 2). This series is not an expose on immigration; it’s a feature on what human beings endure to have some sense of honor and belonging where there is little hope. It may not be “hard news,” but it certainly is eye-opening and worth reading.

In a country where we take our homes, meals, clothes, cars, cheap gas, etc., for granted, it is difficult to imagine the horrors of what Enrique and others go through just to survive. Of course, many Americans would rather not know about these atrocities so that they don’t sit on their consciences.

We are more interested in pursuing wealth and protecting what’s ours than in helping those less fortunate. We shout righteously against God being removed from our pledge but, given the chance to do something truly righteous, we look the other way. So are we really a Christian society after all?

Paul Stowitts

San Dimas

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While I’m sure your multi-part story concerning the unfortunate boy Enrique is accurate, perhaps a story about a legal family’s child would be more appropriate. Sympathy for illegal immigrant criminals is something we do not need.

Ted Raimi

Los Angeles