Give immigrants a chance to be Americans

Over the last few weeks there has been many letter writers, pro and con, commenting about limiting or restricting immigration from particular parts of the world or of a particular religion. Some feel as if this would be a great stain on the U.S.

In fact, the U.S. has passed many laws through the years restricting immigration. In 1924 a law was passed preventing Arabs and Asians from coming to our shores while severely limiting immigration from southern and eastern Europe. This lasted until the 1950s when another law was passed with other restrictions.

Look the laws up. A number of reasons were given as to why these laws were passed. One was that we should just have some time to allow the last massive groups of immigrants to assimilate and become "Americans."

Not a bad idea if one thinks about it. The United States of America is as much an idea as a place.

Richard Murdock

North Aurora