Who’s to blame?

Re “Citizens snared in the net,” April 9

Another ugly chapter in the history of the United States is being repeated.

During the Depression, as jobs disappeared, blame for the poor economy was placed on the backs of Mexican American citizens of the United States, many of whom were railroaded off to the country of their ancestors.

Now U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement may be attempting to again send the children of these same Americans to a foreign country.

When will our education system learn and start teaching that we Americans of Mexican descent have been in this country for centuries -- even before the signing of the Declaration of Independence?

Al Garcia

Buena Park

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That legitimate immigrants are mishandled by our legal system is unfortunate and should not happen.

However, The Times should also give us more articles about the horrendous effects of illegal immigration on our society.

It is curious that we find so many stories that sympathize with immigrants, both legal and illegal, but very few about the problems caused by the millions of illegals in this era of high unemployment and social turmoil.

Roger Nicholson

Irvine

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We need to implement a single national ID system.

If government services and financial transactions required such a single, valid ID, illegal immigrants and terrorists would be forced to surface or leave.

It would allow us to start fixing the error-ridden Social Security system. Identity theft would be more difficult.

If all Americans had to carry identification, then the American Civil Liberties Union would not be able to argue that immigrants are being profiled and, therefore, suffering discrimination.

Any citizen should be able to produce a valid ID on demand of legal authorities.

Jack Gordon

Newhall