Easier immigration isn’t that easy

Letter writer Valerie Carrion’s Nov. 23 letter (Easier immigration solution is needed) raised several issues to be better defined. Yes, our government and John Q. Public did notice the sudden diversity in our population. This phenomena resulted from President Reagan’s one time amnesty plan which in turn encouraged millions more of illegal immigrants.

These illegal entrants to America simply sneaked in to find a job and a better life. However, their sheer numbers looking for work is counter productive. This flood of illegal immigrants seeking employment tilts the law of supply and demand into the favor of low end employers who pay them as little as possible in cash which ends up tax free. As a result, the government and taxpayers pick up the tab for all the resulting shortfalls.

Reagan’s amnesty gesture finds today’s politicians hard pressed to handle the fallout from these inherited 10 million undocumented individuals. What to do with these illegal immigrants will take the wisdom of a Solomon to formulate a workable solution that will be amenable to all parties involved. Politicians know they are walking a tightrope on this issue during this poor economy. A solution that will get them re-elected is now uppermost in their minds.

And the need for easier immigration procedures that the letter writer suggests? Our U.S. Immigration service receives 600,000 yearly applications that span the globe. These applicants initiate the immigration process by filling out applications, passing health checks, interviewing at a U.S. Consular office, paying out fees and finally waiting their turn to immigrate. Illegal immigrants ignore these time consuming formalities and randomly sneak across our borders in the dead of night. A fast and simple illegal immigration method, but hardly fair to those that want to do it legally.

Walter Santi

Bloomingdale