Submitted by John House, Dec 28, 2007 20:31

Only a very unwise person would condone current US immigration policy and enforcement. A prudent democracy requires that persons entering the country show a respect for civil law, respect for the government and civil society and a desire to contribute constructively and lawfully to the economy.

Our history shows that most immigrants were either unskilled persons who earned their educations and skills after entering the United States, or shamefully, were slaves who were denied the possibility of participating as citizens for many generations.

The assertion that we permit some 1 million people (0.03 percent of the US population) to enter "pretty much equally" is a sick misstatement. Current immigration law discriminates on the basis of education, wealth and national origin. Our current law says in essence that someone born north of the Rio Grande is entitled to education and justice. Someone born 1/2 mile south of that ditch is condemned to poverty unless they are filthy rich already.

A fair immigration policy would assure the good intentions of those entering (not their craftiness at crossing a border or their position of privilege). It would then assure that persons who lived by honest commerce and legal trades are given an opportunity to prosper, while those who chose otherwise were given the opportunity to live elsewhere in the world.

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