Do you hate Mexicans, or just “illegal” Mexicans?

By Ken Carroll

Editorial

While I realize that all nationalities are immigrating (legally and illegally) to the United States, but living in Arizona, the wailing is about the Mexicans. Some people say they don’t object to immigration, it is just the illegal immigration that they oppose. But there are also those that want all Mexicans out of the state.

There are those that try and compare the Irish and Italian immigration of our forefathers, to that of today’s Mexican immigration. The first thing they say is, “My great, great, grandfather came to America legally; These Mexicans are coming here illegally!”

It is hard to compare apples and oranges, because when the Italians, Irish, Germans, and others came here, all they had to do was register and they would be legal. Mexicans that want to be legal must spend thousands of dollars and endure a complicated procedure that could take up to ten years to become final.

Are you anti-immigration folks against Mexicans in the country, or just illegal Mexicans? Would you still be against Mexicans if they registered and then entered legally, or would it make a difference? Illegals wouldn't be illegal if we reformed and simplified immigration.

There are those that say these Mexicans don’t pay their bills and they suck up all of the benefits that are intended for tax-paying citizens. There are American born citizens that don't pay their bills. Being poor is not restricted to illegal immigrants.

If the Mexicans were allowed to register legally, they would be paying taxes and contributing like everyone else . . . if they were allowed to do so. If they were allowed to come in legally, they would then have something that they could lose, and they would be just as accountable as anyone else.

AND, they sure wouldn't be risking their lives to cross the dangerous Sonoran Desert. Do you think Mexicans like being robbed, extorted, raped and beaten, and hidden in drop houses waiting for ransoms to be paid, if all they had to do was register and get an ID card that would allow them to open checking accounts, get insurance, and pay their taxes?

When the Irish and Italians came here "legally" they were still hated and despised. They joined gangs and flocked together - most speaking their own languages. After awhile, they blended in and were finally accepted.

The cry should be to reform immigration, not ostracize every Mexican in sight. There have been Mexicans here from the beginning of time. It is just a matter of making immigration reasonable and legal for them to enter and become contributing parts of our country, . . . or we can continue to complain about the "illegals" ruining our country!