In response to Navarrette columns

This is in response to Rueben Navarrette's recent columns. He writes that it is now a good time for Congress to legalize the millions of illegal immigrants. I, and most Americans, couldn't disagree with him more. He wrote on Dec 21 that he had three strong reasons for legalization, and I would like to squash each one.

1. He asked, "Why not now?" Here's why: Our country is in a massive recession; we don't need anymore people to feed and care for. We tried an amnesty program in the '80s, and the result is more illegals have flooded in. If we do it again, can you imagine the wave of illegals later?

2. Navarette argued that illegals don't take any jobs that Americans want. Hogwash. So many teenagers have been shut out of the entry-level jobs that they're a highly unemployed group. I'll also guarantee you that there are many unemployed Americans who would take just about any job right now. In fact, Chuck Goudie, another Daily Herald columnist, just wrote a story about an African-American who lost his job to 'cheaper' Mexican labor.

3. He suggested that legalizing these illegals will level the jobs' playing field. We need to protect our jobs for Americans and people here legally. Our unemployment level is sky high already. Let's take care of Americans first. Rueben, let me state for the record, that I have many Mexican friends. I learned to read, write and speak Spanish on my own after I was 30 years old. My family has vacationed in several Spanish-speaking countries more than 30 times. So no one can accuse me of not liking, enjoying or caring about Mexican culture. This is strictly about what is legal and illegal, and the repercussions of trying another amnesty program again.

Guy Crucil

Bloomingdale