Not opposed to immigration, opposed to illegal immigration

In response to the “Gangs of Cave Creek” op‑ed by Evan Christopher (The Desert Advocate, Feb. 21), I don’t think that most Americans are opposed to immigration–just to illegal immigration. It sounds so nice that they are coming here to start a better life, and there is nothing wrong with that–if it’s done legally. Most of our ancestors came from other countries, but did it legally.

With the shootouts between rival coyotes on our freeways, is it any wonder that we want them here legally? At least that way we can weed out some of the undesirable immigrants–the drug runners, rapists, murderers–and we hear about them all the time.

Do you know how much it costs this state, and our country, to give these illegals the free medical care, food stamps, and schooling that they receive? And how hard it is for some legal American families to receive health care at all?

And as for discrimination against them for not providing information written in Spanish, sorry, this is America, why should it be written in Spanish? Did we provide written information to all the immigrants from other countries in their own languages when they came even just a generation ago? No, these legal immigrants knew they were in America and knew they had to learn English and were happy to.

How many times have you gone into a business, and the people working there could not understand you? And then reacted rudely because you asked to speak to someone that knew English? And how about these businesses in some parts of the Valley that have their signs only in Spanish? Many of the legal immigrants that came a generation ago–even if they would have qualified for it–refused any food stamps or other help because they were proud to make their own way here and did not expect, or want, any free handouts.

What is wrong with fining landlords or businesses for hiring or renting to illegals? They are breaking the law and should be fined. Sure, there has got to be a better way, but as long as it is illegal that means it’s against the law and the laws should be enforced.

And no, I am not racist, we have quite a mixed family, but they are here legally and are not breaking any laws or asking for government handouts.

Debbie Byman
New River