Immigrant issues

Regarding “Policy reversal may cut growth” (News, Jan. 21) and “OKC school workers flock to free Spanish classes” (News, Jan. 22): As the grandson of Mexican immigrants who came to this country in 1915, I appreciate the dream of finding a place to live, raise a family, find a job and see a better future for future family generations. There are many immigrants here in Oklahoma who work, raise family, send their children to school so they can learn and dream. The unfortunate situation involving DACA and DAPA is that both are products of a wrongful exercise of presidential power. The executive order creating these deferments violated Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2015 ruled both as violating existing law. A 4-4 vote in the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the lower court ruling. Congress has a clear opportunity to now do something about this injustice.

A nation welcomes immigrants who are willing to abide by the law and contribute to its prosperity and common good. Many immigrants have done that, even making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of this nation. Sen. James Lankford’s support of the SUCCEED proposal calls on us to seriously consider this approach as a move toward merit naturalization and eventual citizenship. Like before, immigrants again can contribute to the national good.

Nathan Chavez, Del City