Republicans and immigration

Re “Immigration’s bad guys,” Opinion, June 5

Jonah Goldberg manages to avoid the fact that Ronald Reagan not only signed the last amnesty bill but also did nothing to shore up the borders afterward. Could it be he was just a bit beholden to large California farm interests? I get sick of these immigration-bashers who also want to put Reagan on some pedestal.

DAVE SCHAAR

Pasadena

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Goldberg thinks conservatives oppose illegal immigration simply because it’s illegal. That’s funny. Then why do they oppose anyone who speaks Spanish in the workplace? Who supports bilingual education? Who waves a Mexican flag? None of these things is illegal. If these same conservatives are so concerned about illegality, why don’t they speak up when companies knowingly pollute the air and water? When dealers sell guns without the required background checks? When the Bush administration violates domestic spying laws?

It’s the immigrants, stupid, not their illegality.

ROB SCHMIDT

Culver City

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Goldberg’s frustration with the divide among conservatives on immigration illustrates the modern Republican Party’s lack of ideological focus. It is a loose coalition of social conservatives and pro-business free-marketeers. Meaningful immigration reform is opposed by the business community, which isn’t about to give up cheap labor. It’s shaping up as a wedge issue that doesn’t bode well for Republicans in 2008.

MAEVE WOLFENDEN

Sherman Oaks