End Immigration

The Times proposes some reasonable questions about immigration (editorial, Oct. 21). But the underlying assumption seems to be that continued mass immigration is a given, a force of nature. Instead, start fresh with a truly basic question: Why should we permit any immigration at all? It won’t do to brush this off with the weary cliche that we’re a nation of immigrants. Even if this were true -- it’s not -- it wouldn’t provide guidance for a crowded 21st century nation with depleting resources and balkanizing ethnic groups.

Paul Nachman

Redondo Beach