Exasperation over illegal immigration

Re “The border and the classroom,” editorial, Aug. 8

What difference does it make if the money needed to educate the millions of children of illegal aliens comes from the federal government or local taxpayers when all the funding comes from those of us who legitimately pay those taxes?

We did have “reforms to effectively control and monitor the immigrant flow.” Remember the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, which was supposed to enact laws to control unauthorized immigration?

Unfortunately, those laws were never enforced, so greedy employers and the politicians they support could reap the benefits of cheap labor. So please explain again exactly what good it would do if “Congress and the White House” could agree on immigration reforms if they have no intention of enforcing them.

JUDY MCLAUGHLIN

Simi Valley

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Not only did “The border and the classroom” cogently and fairly frame the adverse effects of uncontrolled immigration upon the public education system, it also succinctly and appropriately places primary responsibility for mitigating the problems where it clearly belongs, with the federal government. Perhaps your illuminating statement will embolden tremulous state and local elected officials to finally face reality and confront Washington with a collective voice, not just about the border and the classroom but about the border and the emergency room and the border and the courtroom.

WILLIAM SAMS

West Covina