Immigration reality

Regarding “Continuing mission” editorial (Page A33, July 8), sadly, a growing and disgusting crescendo of vitriol is being hurled at anyone bent on enforcing immigration laws. Activists charge Republicans with intolerance, discrimination or outright racism and try to shame those wishing to impose reasonable immigration limits. As focus moves to the inhumanity of separating minors from their parents, it should be noted that well over 50 percent of these separations occur prior to entry into the United States through parental consent, trafficking, paid smugglers or the like.

No matter how honorable their motives may be, no amount of compassion or empathy can change the immutable fact that we as a country cannot afford the prohibitive costs of an open-border society.

From the Immigration Exclusion Act of 1882 to the Patriot Act of 2001, U.S. immigration law has been built on inspecting, rejecting, limiting or eventually processing anyone seeking admission. Congress has passed no less than 17 acts reinforcing its responsibility to regulate immigration and the right of states to participate in the enforcement thereof.

Our laws have not failed, only our will to adequately enforce them has. If we naively continue to bestow our country’s heretofore seemingly boundless largess on this mass of uninvited humanity, we will face a certain and unfathomable decline as a nation. If we instead insist that our immigration process be followed, then perhaps we can still thrive as a worthy beacon of liberty and freedom, grounded in law and order.

Jerry K Deutsch, Seabrook