Immigrants
Regarding “Immigrant workers are needed now more than ever” editorial (HoustonChronicle.com, Oct. 12), the United States’ current immigration model is flawed and outdated, and President Donald Trump’s efforts to bolster it are simply ill-informed. This is not to say open borders are the way to go; border protection is important to battle the illegal drug trade and human trafficking.
Nevertheless, fiery anti-immigration efforts ultimately isolate Amer- ica and promote nativist sentiments. Trump’s dangerous “America First” doctrine causes the United States to retreat into itself and hinders both economic and social growth.
Because of the destruction from Hurricane Harvey, immigrant workers are necessary, even those who are living here illegally. It’s time to bring undocumented immigrants out of the shadows and incorporate them into American society by presenting effective opportunities for them to legally work in this country. Targeting and shunning them is simply not the way to go.
Both ethically and economically, it is our duty to reform the flawed immigration system currently in place so undocumented immigrants looking for honest work have a path toward legality. In Houston and nationwide, these workers are needed to rebuild cities and boost the economy, and the time to grant them these opportunities is now. Eduardo Rincon, Houston