Another amnesty, floodgates will open

Can Eugene Robinson (Aug. 1 Daily Herald) or any other person who is pro-illegal immigrant please explain to me why they always refer to Arizona's illegal-immigrant law as anti-Latino? It is my belief the law, which mirrors the federal law, makes no reference to any specific ethnic group. It is not the fault of the law if the vast majority of illegal immigrants are of Latino decent.

Mr. Robinson goes on to write, "If local police are ordered to verify the immigration status of anyone they detain or question, there is a 'substantial likelihood' that such an indiscriminate dragnet will sweep up legal resident aliens, foreign tourists with valid visas, and even U.S. citizens - in other words, anyone who looks kind of Mexican."

First of all, police must have substantial reason to suspect a detainee of being illegal before taking further steps to verify their residency.

Secondly, where does he get the idea to write "anyone who looks kind of Mexican." Again, numbers will probably result in most investigations being of persons of Latino decent. Does that make the law wrong?

Perhaps Mr. Robinson and all other pro-illegals believe that immigration ports should simply be wide open with no limit on immigration. In 1986, President Regan granted amnesty to some three million illegals with the understanding that this would be a one-time-only grant. Obviously, people were discouraged from trying to illegally enter the country. Grant another amnesty and the floodgates will be open, as if they aren't already.

Phillip E. Ritchey

Glendale Heights