Immigration laws should have same rules as native country

After reading Susan Bigelow’s rant “Stop these inhumane deportations” in the May 6 issue, I felt compelled to respond.

Ms. Bigelow claims the deportation problem stems from an “ignorant horde of nativists (who) elected a vicious clown to the oval office.” I suppose one can assume Ms. Bigelow did not vote for Mr. Trump and therefore she considers herself to be intellectually superior to those of the horde!

She provided a history of immigration, saying that immigrants today face hurdles our ancestors “never imagined.” While this is true, we are not the same country we were back then. Immigrants came here with nothing and had no expectations of receiving anything from the government. They supported themselves and their families in their own neighborhoods. I might add, they came here legally under the rules in place at that time.

Luis Barrios and the problem with his immigration status is the result of his failure to follow the rules. He is undocumented and therefore “illegal.” It is quite reasonable to believe that had he attended his asylum hearing in 1998, he would not be in the situation he is today.

Yes, we have a severe illegal immigration problem that poses many problems for the taxpaying citizens of this country. These illegal immigrants receive free medical care, housing subsistence, welfare, free education benefits and a host of other costly perks. This is money that would be better spent on homeless and impoverished U.S. citizens.

So to be fair to those who are here, or come here illegally, I suggest that our laws dealing with illegal immigration should reflect the same rules as would apply to an illegal immigrant in their country of origin. Fair is fair, yes? — Thomas R. Nash, Portland