Cost of admission

Re “Cost of U.S. citizenship likely to rise,” Feb. 1

The federal government’s new hike for residency and citizenship fees (66%) is not exactly the “give me your poor and huddled masses” plan. Anyone in that category, say like our grandparents and great-grandparents, would never have reached our shores.

The Bush administration has a history of asking for money that disappears in the guise of grandiose projects and national security. If this $2-billion increase is managed by the incompetent political appointees whom we’ve seen before, we can kiss the money goodbye.

MARION LEWISH

San Diego