Get the real story on illegal immigrants

As a 57-year-old white female, I am offended by Patty Harmon's letter suggesting that all illegal immigrants are criminals and only the Caucasian immigrants of old worked hard to create a better life.

Ms. Harmon, please go volunteer in a low-income, high-minority school that no doubt has illegal immigrants, and see how well-behaved the majority of those children are and how hard their parents work to create a better life for them, just as immigrants of old did.

Create a club, troop, or drive these kids to Little League, which their parents can't do because they are both working two minimum-wage jobs to support their families.

The main difference between legal and illegal immigrant families is that the illegal families would never make it to the United States if they went through legal channels. Imagine being that parent who wants a better life for their children but is stuck in a country that guarantees a life of poverty. Would you do the brave thing and become "illegal"?

By the way, not all Caucasian, legal immigrants of old were upstanding citizens. Check your history. I am really tired of extreme views with no effort to understand the full picture.

Not all illegal immigrants are "bad" or "good." Gee, just like the rest of us in the United States.

Janet Knupp

Bartlett