Illegal immigration rallies, such as Monday's march down the Strip, are profoundly disturbing on many levels.
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First, we see how our government, in a bipartisan way, has forsaken the sovereignty of our country.
Second, it is ironic that Mexican citizens are not protesting their own country. Mexico is a resource-rich nation desperately in need of political reform. Whatever the excuses are for not protesting in Mexico, that country's citizens are apparently willing to organize here. Why not protest the conditions in Mexico that drove them from their own country?
Lastly, what does it mean when the Hispanic community says illegal immigrants just come here for a better life for their families, yet about half of Hispanic students eventually drop out of American schools? Wouldn't one of the first priorities for establishing a better life for your family be to see that your children at least finish high school?
It is clear where we must focus our resources: border control, employer accountability and drying up the wellspring of taxpayer-funded services provided to illegal immigrants. Only after we are well on our way to accomplishing these things do we even consider what to do about the illegal immigrants currently in our country.
If we put in place any kind of program for identifying or forgiving illegal immigrants before the infrastructure is in place, no matter how stringent the eligibility requirements are, it will be fraught with fraud.
Theresa Morrow
LAS VEGAS
Go home
To the editor:
Monday's boycott by illegal immigrants showed us that without illegal immigrants, our schools are less crowded, our freeways are less congested and hundreds of thousands of American dollars are not being wired to Mexico. Does anyone see anything bad about that?
You proved your point. Now go home.
Bill Edwards
LAS VEGAS
Encore! Encore!
To the editor:
Monday's "Day Without Immigrants" was a day without heavy traffic and long lines. As a matter of record, I was able to understand every word I heard around the valley.
Let's do this again real soon. Next time, make it a whole week, and really make us understand what it would be like if you were not here.
C. Hudson
NORTH LAS VEGAS
Control the border
To the editor:
I understand why immigrants, both legal and illegal, are concerned about how Congress will handle immigration reform. The final compromise will affect them directly. I even understand Monday's protests, rallies and boycotts.
My biggest concern isn't about the illegal immigrants who are already here. My biggest concern is about how we control our borders and control the flow of all people who wish to come to our country in the future. If we do not do that, what Congress decides to do with the illegal immigrants already here doesn't matter.
If Congress and the president continue to refuse to address border security, they should be removed from office.
Michael K. Casler
LAS VEGAS
What about Mexico?
To the editor:
What other country would allow criminals to demonstrate in the streets in protest of the laws that make them criminals? What next? Bank robbers marching to protest the use of surveillance cameras? Rapists protesting the use DNA analysis?
Maybe those millions of illegal immigrants should be marching through the streets of Mexico City, demanding that their government create a livable society.
Mexico could be the pearl of North America. It has the best climate, the most and best beaches, abundant natural resources and wonderful scenery. What it doesn't have is an economy that works, a society that works, a political system that works or a justice system that works.
Maybe that's what all these immigrants should be protesting.
Richard Williams
LANGLEY, WASH.
An historic event
To the editor:
For you to report, quoting police estimates, that there were between 7,000 and 8,000 marchers on the Strip Monday is preposterous ("Thousands march on Strip," Tuesday). That estimate misrepresents and attempts to downplay the magnitude of the turnout.
Every marcher passed under my vantage point on the crossover at Flamingo Road and the Strip, and the number was more like 80,000. Thousands upon thousands of immigrant supporters marched by, chanting "U.S.A., U.S.A." They stretched as far as the eye could see, for block upon block, continuing, continuing and continuing. You misled the public as to the magnitude of this historic event.
