Good idea

Re “The promise of Rapid Repat,” Opinion, Feb. 16

Before reading Julie Myers Wood’s Op-Ed article, I had never even heard of Rapid Repat, which offers early release for illegal immigrants who are incarcerated for non-violent crimes -- provided they agree to deportation. It’s a brilliant idea. Wood says that “immigrant advocates claim that it is too harsh on illegal immigrants.” This is like driving advocates claiming that traffic tickets are too harsh on red-light runners.

I could rob a bank and insist that I only did so because I was facing tough times. I’d go to jail. But someone enters our country illegally and “advocates” cry about his treatment. Immigration advocates ask us to respect people who have shown no respect for our laws. How does that make sense?

Todd Groves

Santa Monica