Legal Status

President Obama no longer has to worry about re-election, so now he is free to pursue his so-called "comprehensive immigration reform" - in other words, amnesty for illegal immigrants ("Granting legal status for undocumented immigrants will increase competition in workforce," Jan. 29). Congress must stop any proposal by this administration to give amnesty to illegal immigrants. It must not ignore the plight of the American worker, and we should beware of the administration's lame excuses for rewarding illegal immigrants with American jobs.

Marianna Inga Burt, an attorney who represented children, died of cardiovascular disease March 12 at Union Memorial Hospital. She was 80 and lived in the Tuscany-Canterbury section of North Baltimore. Born Marianna Koenig in Hoganas, Sweden, she was the daughter of a chemist, Walter Koenig, and his wife, Elisabeth. She and her family moved to Germany in 1944 and lived in Stendal. She graduated from high school in what became East Germany during the Soviet occupation. Her family eventually left East Germany and relocated to West Germany.

Regarding your editorial on lowering college tuition rates for undocumented immigrants ("A flawed compromise," March 8), investing in our youth makes good sense, in particular where education is concerned. If our legislators truly recognized the value of education and how it results in increased productivity that, in turn, leads to increased revenue for the state down the road, they would be funding free tuition to all of our residents. However, cultivating our local "human capital," as you phrase it, will only result in rewards for the state if that capital stays here.

President Obama no longer has to worry about re-election, so now he is free to pursue his so-called "comprehensive immigration reform" - in other words, amnesty for illegal immigrants ("Granting legal status for undocumented immigrants will increase competition in workforce," Jan. 29). Congress must stop any proposal by this administration to give amnesty to illegal immigrants. It must not ignore the plight of the American worker, and we should beware of the administration's lame excuses for rewarding illegal immigrants with American jobs.

I'm old enough to remember the 1986 amnesty for undocumented immigrants ("Citizen status is seen for millions," Jan. 28). I recall it was guaranteed never to happen again and the matter was settled. Now, nearly three decades later, we're back at square one. Millions apparently will be pardoned and soon wending their way to citizenship. I was surprised by Vice President Joe Biden's recent comment at this month's congressional swearing in ceremony. He stated that the Latinos "are the center of the future of this nation.

WASHINGTON -- Senators negotiating a bipartisan immigration reform bill have settled on the details of a plan that would immediately grant legal status to all illegal immigrants currently in the United States. The deal on "Z visas" for illegal immigrants is one of several issues where Democrats and Republicans have reached broad agreement. But as senators emerged from what they had hoped would be a final round of negotiations yesterday, they indicated that painstakingly slow progress would keep them from meeting the deadline set by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada to begin debate on a bill today.

NEW YORK - Completing bus journeys throughout the United States modeled on the Freedom Rides that fought segregation in the South, tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in a New York yesterday to urge stronger rights for immigrants. The demonstration in Flushing Meadows Park was designed to heighten awareness of the plight of immigrants who are seeking a clear path to citizenship, to reunite with their families and greater protection in the workplace. "When I was 21 years old, I got on a bus in Washington, D.C. There were 13 of us. We traveled to the South to bring down those signs that say `white man' and `colored man,' `white women' and `colored women,'" Rep. John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat, told a cheering crowd.

Marianna Inga Burt, an attorney who represented children, died of cardiovascular disease March 12 at Union Memorial Hospital. She was 80 and lived in the Tuscany-Canterbury section of North Baltimore. Born Marianna Koenig in Hoganas, Sweden, she was the daughter of a chemist, Walter Koenig, and his wife, Elisabeth. She and her family moved to Germany in 1944 and lived in Stendal. She graduated from high school in what became East Germany during the Soviet occupation. Her family eventually left East Germany and relocated to West Germany.

The Fox News network published an opinion article entitled "An Illegal Alien's Guide to the Top Five Best Places to Live In America". As an introduction, the author (Bob Dane) stated, "When 'relocating' to the United States, it's best to avoid states that have selfishly put the interests of their legal residents ahead of yours with laws that hinder your access to jobs and benefits. But many attractive destinations remain, endorsed by millions of illegal aliens already living in each.

On Wednesday, one of the most sweeping changes in U.S. immigration policy in decades went into effect when an estimated 1.7 million children of undocumented immigrants became eligible to apply for the temporary right to work and go to school in this country without fear of being deported. Under an executive order issued by President Barack Obama in June, the federal government will no longer deport undocumented immigrants under the age of 31 who came to this country as children if they meet certain conditions.

I'm old enough to remember the 1986 amnesty for undocumented immigrants ("Citizen status is seen for millions," Jan. 28). I recall it was guaranteed never to happen again and the matter was settled. Now, nearly three decades later, we're back at square one. Millions apparently will be pardoned and soon wending their way to citizenship. I was surprised by Vice President Joe Biden's recent comment at this month's congressional swearing in ceremony. He stated that the Latinos "are the center of the future of this nation.

Many of the arguments on both sides of the debate about Maryland's version of the Dream Act are emotional. They deal with the question of whether it is fair to provide benefits in the form of in-state college tuition to students whose parents came to this country illegally, or about whether those who have known no home other than America should be denied the chance to achieve their fullest potential. But it is also a simple question of dollars and cents: How much will it cost, and what do we, the taxpayers, get out of it?

On Wednesday, one of the most sweeping changes in U.S. immigration policy in decades went into effect when an estimated 1.7 million children of undocumented immigrants became eligible to apply for the temporary right to work and go to school in this country without fear of being deported. Under an executive order issued by President Barack Obama in June, the federal government will no longer deport undocumented immigrants under the age of 31 who came to this country as children if they meet certain conditions.

A survey of 549 community-based organizations suggests that housing discrimination is on the rise, particularly targeting disabled individuals, immigrants, minorities and families with children, according to the nonprofit Consumer Action . Locally, Baltimore Neighborhoods Inc. has said it found similar problems. The organizations, which has sent “testers” out in the region to inquire about available housing, filed suit last year and in 2010 over alleged discrimination.

Editor: In response to Patrick Endres' letter printed July 27 in The Aegis and entitled "Immigrants Vital to U.S. ", I would submit that once again, the debate is not one of immigration but one of illegal immigration. We do not have to revisit the sins of our ancestors during the Mexican American War to justify the current failure of our government officials to enforce the rule of law across the land. When a permanent underclass of people living in the shadows of our society is not only allowed but encouraged, the country as a whole suffers.

Dan Rodricks ' recent column ("Immigrants: We detest them — and need them," June 30) unjustly slams legal immigrants and American citizens. By his column comments, it appears Mr. Rodricks does not understand there are drastic differences between Americans' attitude about legal as opposed to illegal immigration. American citizens appreciate the hard work that legal immigrants do in our country in all occupations especially those in the agricultural industry. What is not appreciated are citizens from other countries who illegally cross our borders (many with drugs tied to their back)

WASHINGTON -- Rallying outside the Capitol, hundreds of Central Americans demanded yesterday that the United States accept refugees from their war-torn homelands the same way it welcomes those who fled from Cuba and Nicaragua.The demonstration renewed a bitter debate about whether those who flee leftist regimes should get preferential treatment over those who escape other forms of oppression or upheaval.Salvadorans, Guatemalans and Hondurans streamed in from various parts of the Eastern Seaboard to rally behind legislation that would make tens of thousands of Central Americans permanent legal residents of the United States.

A proposal to help undocumented immigrants in Maryland obtain their driver's licenses came under fire yesterday because of concerns the measure could make it easier for terrorists to acquire identification from the state. Family members of Sept. 11 victims and other opponents of the bill launched a campaign against the legislation in a news conference and during a packed hearing before the House Judiciary Committee. "This is a situation that is intolerable," said Wilton A. Sekzer, a board member of the 911 Families for a Secure America who lost his son in the World Trade Center attack, during the morning news conference.

The Fox News network published an opinion article entitled "An Illegal Alien's Guide to the Top Five Best Places to Live In America". As an introduction, the author (Bob Dane) stated, "When 'relocating' to the United States, it's best to avoid states that have selfishly put the interests of their legal residents ahead of yours with laws that hinder your access to jobs and benefits. But many attractive destinations remain, endorsed by millions of illegal aliens already living in each.

Regarding your editorial on lowering college tuition rates for undocumented immigrants ("A flawed compromise," March 8), investing in our youth makes good sense, in particular where education is concerned. If our legislators truly recognized the value of education and how it results in increased productivity that, in turn, leads to increased revenue for the state down the road, they would be funding free tuition to all of our residents. However, cultivating our local "human capital," as you phrase it, will only result in rewards for the state if that capital stays here.