To those against illegal immigration

Those against illegal immigration, starting today, boycott all Mexican products, including our food, beer, tequila and our labor. If you are an American in the construction industry, I suggest joining the Union, because then you aren’t at risk of a Mexican taking your job. Americans and many legal immigrants believe that by having papers, their work habits shouldn’t be up to par, which leaves “illegals” employed.

Those against illegal immigration seem to blame children of immigrants for America’s problem. I didn’t choose to be Mexican-American, I just got lucky.

Assimilation will never be achieved without some kind of amnesty, which may not even involve green cards, but valid IDs given by the DMV. Being able to identify the criminals is one way to solve this problem. But with one side crying full amnesty and the other crying mass deportation, things will only get worse.

You do not need to know English to be successful in this country and one counts as two by knowing two languages such as English and Spanish since they involve two very distinct communities.
Many “illegals” have studied the English language, and many have learned it. Other illegal and legal individuals may have it harder, since learning English at an older age is extremely difficult.

Those here “legally” may not even know English, but they receive your “respect” for having papers. Let’s be clear that “illegals” aren’t afraid to tell you they’re “illegal,” since they have nothing to hide. They may never have obtained a valid driver’s license in Virginia, but may have in another state or country. Illegal immigrants used to be able to obtain licenses in Virginia, but can no longer renew their expired licenses. We give the police department too much credit, since identifying an “illegal” for an officer couldn’t possibly be difficult. They continue to harass “illegals,” and invade homes without proper warrants, knowing “illegals” may not know what rights they have.

I could never be against illegal immigration, unless other than working, it poses an actual threat to the community as a whole, not just the minority voting population. My parents were both at one point illegal, and even though I was nothing more than an “anchor baby,” I proved to be more than just that.

RUBEN PINEDA

Manassas