Deportation of immigrant felons

Re “Do the crime, go home,” editorial, Feb. 6

In your editorial supporting the practice of investigating the residency status of Los Angeles County jail inmates, you state, “There should be a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, but convicts have forfeited the right to be on it. Send them home.” So, by your reasoning, a criminal who commits a penal code violation and is caught should be deported. However, a criminal who successfully violates federal immigration laws and avoids detection should be rewarded with an opportunity at citizenship.

Yeah, that makes sense.

SAM ZISLMAN

Los Angeles

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Last time I looked, the border between the United States and Mexico is a national one. Thus, it seems obvious that the federal government should fund the deportation of criminals convicted in California and other states to their home countries. It’s bad enough that so many crimes are committed in this country, but taxpayers bear the cost of trials and incarceration too.

ROXANE WINKLER

Sherman Oaks

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Your editorial seems at odds with a Times article published in 2005 that described an increase in gang activity in U.S. cities after felons were deported to their native countries. Armed with the English language and a degree of sophistication unknown in their towns and villages, they were able to recruit youths for the infamous Mara Salvatrucha gangs from El Salvador and others with knowledge and experience in illegal border crossings. Within weeks after “vacations” in their home countries, they were back on our streets with renewed strength.

The advice to send convicts home is appealing, but it may amount to shooting ourselves in the foot.

LEE BOTSFORD

Del Mar