Every tax is a pay cut.  Every tax cut is a pay raise.
Citizens for Limited Taxation

Don't condone illegal immigration Thursday, October 14, 2004
Dr. Nicolas Sanchez, Framingham Metrowest Daily News
This is in response to Ms. Soraya Winter's letter of Oct. 13, 2004.  Ms. Winters claims that no opportunity or process exists for illegal immigrants to become U.S. citizens.  That is false.  They can return home and go through the same process that legal immigrants go through.  Illegal immigrants are not only "jumping ahead of the line" in their own countries, but they are also taking away jobs from legal immigrants and many members of the Afro-American community.  This is so because illegals are paid under the table and neither they nor their employers pay all the taxes that are required by law.

Also, contrary to what Ms. Winters seems to suggest, the early waves of Cuban-Americans had a very tough time becoming U.S. citizens.  While it is true that we were given the legal status of refugees (which should be given to those who come here and are persecuted for religious or political reasons in their homelands), we had to go abroad to get our green cards.  Most Cuban-Americans went to Canada before they returned to the U.S. with a green card in hand.  This was a painful and costly process that is not much different from what I propose:  illegals should return to their home countries, be subjected to background checks there and get in line to become legal immigrants.

It is sad that individuals like Ms. Winters and my Democratic opponent condone illegal immigration.  The difference between the U.S. and many countries is that we have here a system of laws -- and a system that can be changed when the laws are perceived to be unfair. Ms. Winters' letter plays into the hands of those who do not like immigrants at all.  She demonstrates her unwillingness to enforce the law even when she disagrees with it.  That is the type of attitude that makes many immigrants unwelcomed to this country.

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