Words few dare say about immigration

I am not a Democrat or a Republican. I am not a conservative or a liberal. I am just a guy who loves his country and wants to make it better. For that reason, I am about to write a very unpopular letter about immigration.

I love immigrants. I love Mexican immigrants. I love Polish immigrants. I love Chinese immigrants. I love Indian immigrants. If there are immigrants here from Mars, I love them too.

I love them because they bring with them their energy, their labor, their ideas, their entrepreneurship, and their courage. I love them because they make us better.

I love them because they make us. Here are some economic facts and personal observations.

1. We are losing manufacturing jobs because our costs are too high. I am one of the thousands of engineers that decides where to place work. I am the guy that sometimes has to write the purchase order to send work to China so my company can remain competitive.

2. Immigrants come here because our economy needs them. If they were to leave, our costs would go up and more jobs would be shipped overseas.

3. If more immigrants were to come to this country, our costs would go down. If our costs go down, then more jobs would be created.

These are people who just want to go to work. They show up on time. The work hard. They go home.

I understand the fear that we sometimes feel. I urge you to get past the debate about legal and illegal immigration. Let us agree that immigration is as good for our economy now as it was in the early 1900s.

Let us work toward legislation that will greatly increase numbers of legal immigrants to our country. Let us not timidly crack open the gate to our country. Let us boldly and courageously throw open every window and door. Let us say to the world again, "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..."

Philip C. Filosa

Hoffman Estates