Letters to the Editor

Secure borders first

As Sen. John McCain has finally admitted during the later stages of his presidential campaign, the Kennedy-McCain immigration reform bill received outrage and failed because the American people wanted the border secured first, before any consideration was given to reforming the immigration process.

In November of last year, U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC), introduced a bill that sought to accomplish the needed first steps. H.R. 4088, called the SAVE Act of 2007, mandates real security and enforcement measures along the Southern border and just as important, requires employers to verify that their workers are in the United States legally. But, this bill, which is co-sponsored by 48 Democrats and 94 Republicans, has yet to see the light of day for a vote on the House floor, thanks to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Pelosi and liberal Democrats want the bill to contain a path to citizenship for illegal aliens, once again trying to grant amnesty before setting up the proper security and enforcement measures.

Does anyone really believe that Pelosi, Reid and Kennedy are serious about securing our borders and stopping illegal immigration, rather than simply trying to grant amnesty with no enforcement as a means to increase their voting bloc?