Congress debates immigration legislation

Re “GOP’s Call for Hearings Puts Immigration Overhaul in Limbo,” June 21

I was happy to see that the House will continue to oppose President Bush’s and the Senate’s position that there should be a path toward citizenship for the illegal aliens in this country.

There should be no retroactive passes given to any illegal aliens, the borders should be secured and employers should be liable for hiring illegal aliens. There is absolutely no reason why any form of amnesty by whatever name you choose should be allowed. There are too many who seek legal entry into this country, so we should not establish a favored class of guest workers, because the government does not know how to straighten out the mess that it created through its failure to enforce perfectly good immigration laws.

BOB JACK

North Las Vegas, Nev.

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Since when will congressional hearings put good legislation in jeopardy? All the House is trying to do is shine some light on that abomination the Senate cobbled together and called an immigration bill. Why are we in such a hurry for more legislation that looks like a carbon copy of the Simpson-Mazzoli comprehensive immigration bill that was passed in 1986 and never enforced? It’s time the administration showed some intent to enforce the laws on the books before we make another disastrous mistake like that one.

ELWOOD A. ANDERSON

Las Vegas

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Re “Shame on the GOP,” editorial, June 21

Even after the demonstrations, marches and demands by illegal immigrants and their supporters, it seems people still don’t get it. The editorial states that the House bill that passed did nothing to address the need for legal labor. We already have legal labor in this country; they are called citizens. Maybe that should have been rephrased to read “cheap legal labor.” With Congress shooting down the long-overdue minimum wage hike, and basically doing nothing about immigration before the November elections, it is clear that the leadership of this country (Democrat and Republican) is hellbent on keeping the status quo. That is not acceptable. Congress is in need of a serious overhaul.

PAUL HENDERSON

Hawthorne

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The revelation that there may not be an immigration bill passed in Congress this year is further proof that President Bush and the Republican Party are incapable of governing this nation. They will no doubt blame the Democrats, but in the end this party has failed miserably to solve any problem facing the country. It’s time for a change.

RALPH S. BRAX

Lancaster

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Yes, the immigration issue is a crisis. No, Republicans aren’t demonizing a class of people. They are stating that this class of people has broken the law and that the law should be enforced.

CAROLINE SPENCER

Tucson, Ariz.