Being in the United States illegally should have consequences

“Denver seen as a sanctuary; The city, where two women are taking refuge, is being depicted as a hot spot for the movement,” March 12 news story.

One of the basic foundations of this country is the rule of law. Various laws govern virtually every aspect of life in the United States. By definition, there are penalties for violating laws.

If you are in this country illegally, you are violating the country’s immigration laws. Being here illegally has consequences, just like violating any other law has. One of the consequences of being here illegally is that you run the risk of being deported. That is the way the law works.

There is no sense in enforcing some laws and ignoring other laws. There is no reason why immigration laws should not be enforced. People who enter the country illegally accept the risk of deportation because that is a potential penalty for being here illegally.

I have no beef with immigrants. My grandparents immigrated from Ireland and Scotland — but they entered this country legally. Had they not entered the country legally, they would have been subject to deportation. Send letters of 150 words or fewer to openforum@denverpost.com or 101 W. Colfax Ave., Suite 800, Denver, CO, 80202. Please include full name, city and phone number. Contact information is for our purposes only; we will not share it with anyone else. You can reach us by telephone at 303-954-1331.