Illegal Immigrants

Shame on The Sun for publishing an article giving the impression that horse racing couldn't survive without immigrants, especially illegal immigrants("Racing's lack of labor," May 11). And that Americans are lazy and immigrants are hardworking. The proof of this is that horse owner Michelle Sharp hired one American who didn't work out and hired a great illegal worker. And is this a great country or what? People like Ms Sharp can openly admit hiring an illegal in print and know there will be no consequences.

With all due respect to bail bondsmen who play a necessary role in the criminal justice system, the case pending before the Maryland Court of Appeals involving illegal immigrants and whether bondsmen should be liable for illegal immigrant defendants who have been deported raises some troubling questions about the profession. As reported last week by The Sun's Andrea Siegel , the facts in the case of Big Louie Bail Bonds v. State of Maryland are fairly clear cut. Ten individuals, all found to be without proof of legal presence in this country, were arrested on a variety of minor charges in Baltimore County.

Jaime Contreras' response to the Baltimore County Council's recent vote that deals with the hiring of illegal workers by those who do business with the county seems to be all wet ("County Council's wrong on immigrant worker verification," Readers respond, Feb. 3). You can't fit a gallon of water into a shot glass, and that is what this county and country are rapidly facing in dealing with booth legal and illegal immigration. The current recession, one of the worst in our history, with it's 10 percent unemployment rate and $1.6 trillion deficit, should send a message that this nation does not have the recourses to accommodate all of those who wish to come here.

The Baltimore Sun and all the local news outlets made a big deal about the one lone Englishman committing identity theft so he could stay in the country illegally ("Man posing as U.S. citizen arrested at BWI," July 16). Yet thousands of illegals have been doing this for years, and it is barely discussed. Identity theft is a prison level felony. I'm pretty sure that someone who is living the nightmare of having their identity stolen or a woman who can't get widow benefits because the identity thief is using her dead husband's information doesn't really care that their or their loved one's birth certificate or Social Security number has been stolen because the thieves "just want a better life."

The answer to The Sun's question about what could possibly be the point of denying illegal immigrants in Maryland driver's licenses can be found in Webster's dictionary ("State Senate approves driver's licenses for illegal immigrants" Mar 25). The word "illegal" means: unlicensed, prohibited, forbidden, unauthorized, and criminal, just to name a relevant few! And if and until immigration reform is accomplished, I suggest that the state of Maryland and every other state try following the letter of the law, for once, and deport the illegal immigrants instead of rewarding them.

I find it amazing that Dan Rodricks and others who support illegal immigrants always mix up legal and illegal aliens ("Immigrants: We detest them — and need them," June 30). An undocumented alien is an unlawful intruder into this country. Seasonal migrant workers on H-2B visas are documented workers and thus legal immigrants. Illegal immigrants in the U.S. are an affront to all immigrants who followed the process, paid their money and waited their turn to arrive in this country.

A state that turns away qualified legal residents of the nation who wish to attend its universities at a premium price, in favor of those who are here illegally, will be soon be as bankrupt fiscally as it is morally. Lawrence Silberman, Burtonsville

The op-ed written by Robert Koulish in the March 15 Baltimore Sun ("Punishing immigrants") was interesting. He implies that Illegal immigrants should be allowed to remain in our country, work in our businesses and eat up our taxpayer dollars with education for their children, hospital and doctor coverage paid by our tax dollars, and when caught they should not be sent back to their home country. What other country would allow illegal immigrants to do this? I am sure that if the new health care bill is passed that he would want them to be included.

I strongly disagree with your June 12 editorial, "County Council picks wrong fight. " That I and many others in Baltimore County support the County Council's opposition to giving tuition breaks to illegal immigrants is shown by the petition that is gaining approval across Maryland. The elected officials who go against what the people want on this issue are the ones picking the "wrong fight" — not the County Council. Jim Quinn

University of Maryland Baltimore County President Freeman A. Hrabowski is dabbling in partisan politics by rallying support for reduced tuition for illegal immigrants ("Diverse supporters rally behind the Md. Dream Act", July 19). His budget must be flush with cash to advocate cutting his university's tuition fees. In light of Mr. Hrabowski's generosity with Maryland taxpayers' funds, shouldn't we expect the University of Maryland to scale back their appeals for alumni donations and to ask Annapolis for a reduction in the state's subsidy of his school in future budgets?