Immigration Divides the Nation

Our report on the debate over what to do about America's 11 million illegal immigrants sparked comment from readers who argued against punishing people for seeking a better life. But others rejected offering citizenship to those who have broken the law or are unwilling to assimilate

"Should They Stay Or Should They Go?" [April 10] was a thought-provoking contribution to the divisive debate on illegal immigration. The 11 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S. broke our laws, and that has to be remedied. But surely the majority of them are otherwise law-abiding, hardworking individuals, many with children who are American citizens. For the sake of millions of American citizens who are no less patriotic than the rest of us, let's not criminalize their parents just because they are here illegally. We should make illegals pay a fine and, if they have no criminal record, allow them to apply for a guest-worker visa and demonstrate that they can speak English. If they fulfill those requirements, they should be able to stay.

MICHAEL KARANJA Dracut, Mass.

U.S. companies pay illegals poverty wages, reap high profits and complain that if they had to employ legal workers they would go out of business. That is modern slavery, no matter how you cut it, and the only way to stop it is to close the borders, fine those who hire illegal immigrants and then ferret out the illegals who are in this country.

WILLIAM KITTLE Birmingham, Ala.

Giving amnesty to illegal aliens would be similar to catching a man driving a stolen car and then allowing him to keep the car and providing him with a lifetime supply of gas. Why isn't it apparent that if you break the law, any law, you have committed a crime and should not be permitted to keep the stolen goods?

THEODORE H. DREWS Lihue, Hawaii

It will be difficult if not impossible to settle the immigration problem without inciting emotions and stirring anger. There is no panacea available to Congress that will satisfy everyone. The influx of undocumented workers helps and burdens U.S. citizens, but the issue is so polarizing that Americans on both sides of the fence seldom seek compromise or consider the big picture. U.S. citizens who benefit from reduced prices at the supermarket also see their tax dollars strained to support overburdened hospitals, schools and social programs. The only reasonable solution is to pass a law that incorporates compassion with responsibility. It is too late to begin criminalizing people who risked their lives accepting an invitation from U.S. businesses to break the law.

WAYNE TRUJILLO Denver

I am one of thousands of Indians who came to this country legally. I waited for a green card for five years, filed multiple forms, paid taxes and abided by all the rules and laws. Millions of my countrymen are still awaiting a green card (let alone citizenship) after many years because they have followed the law. How fair is it to grant citizenship to people who entered illegally while legal immigrants have to wait to become Americans? It seems that it is advantageous to break the law in the U.S. The only solution is to let illegals remain and keep working but to close the borders.

SHANKAR KRISHNA Pacheco, Calif.