Concern for effects of legalization plan

Re “Amnesty is not a four-letter word,” Opinion, July 29

Amnesty failed in 1986. Why would Tamar Jacoby suggest that it is the holy grail this time around?

If we go the amnesty route again, the consequences are predictable -- illegal immigrants will come in larger numbers with or without a wall. To avoid revisiting the immigration problem in 10 to 15 years we need to make immigration control a major priority, punish business for any use of illegal immigrants and increase the patrols along our borders.

The people outside our borders have to understand that we are unable to bring them all here, that they need to work for change within their own lands.

WORTH BLANEY

Palm Desert

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Jacoby conveniently forgets to tell us that one of the inevitable results of the legalization of the millions of illegal already here will be their ability to bring family members to the United States. I suspect that responses to the Manhattan Institute poll would be vastly different were the question to be framed, “Would you be in favor of amnesty for illegal immigrants if the amnesty were to result in the ability of these illegal immigrants to bring in millions of additional family members?”

DONALD OCHACHER

Woodland Hills