FROM OUR READERS:
U.S. Senate's immigration reform bill is fair, just
To the editor:
Bipartisan legislation is a rarity these days. The U.S. Senate, amazingly enough, was able to pass a bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform bill out of the Judiciary Committee. This balanced bill provided increased border security and earned legalization.
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Nevada's Sen. John Ensign sided with anti-immigrant extremists to help scuttle this legislation by allowing the introduction of hundreds of amendments that would have made the Judiciary's legislation worthless.
When Sen. Ensign was queried about his position on immigration at a function of the Latin Chamber of Commerce, his response was that immigration was a complex issue and to pray for him. Well, Sen. Ensign, as a Christian, I ask you to see the face of Christ in the undocumented and remember that God helps those who help themselves.
Any legalization provided in the past or presently proposed is earned. In the proposed legislation, illegal immigrants have to prove a specified presence in the United States, demonstrate good moral character, show some knowledge of English and the history of the United States, pay back taxes and pay a fine. That is not a handout. It is a hand up. It is fair. It is just.
Lawmakers like Sen. Ensign are more interested in the letter of the law than in the spirit of justice.
Without compromising our nation's security, we can pass a just, bipartisan, balanced, comprehensive immigration reform bill.
