In response to Joanie Peditto’s letter [“A Path to Citizenship Is Good for Everyone,” Sept. 17], I believe the United States does have a path to citizenship—which she touts. It is our legal immigration system, which is probably the same system that gave her grandmother a path to citizenship when she came from Europe.
— Ray Conaway
Asheville
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It is highly unlikely that the immigration system that allowed her mother to come here is the same as it is today. Well into the 20th century anyone who arrived in the US was allowed in if they passed a TB test. Today the wait for legal entry can be as much as 20 years, particularly if one is coming from Latin America.
We need a path to citizenship that addresses the reality of 12 million people that are already here.
It is our legal immigration system, which is probably the same system that gave her grandmother a path to citizenship when she came from Europe.
— Ray Conaway
What century are you living in, Ray?
“Probably”? Way to research!
Here’s what the “path to citizenship” really looks like today. Click anywhere to magnify:
http://www.reason.com/images/07cf533ddb1d06350cf1ddb5942ef5ad.jpg
Grandmother would be appalled and ashamed.
Look at this immigration link:
http://swissmiss.typepad.com/weblog/2008/09/what-part-of-le.html
Let’s not forget- unless you are Native American, you came from immigrants.
and even they migrated here in some fashion thousands of years prior…
I am a natural born citizen and I don’t break the law, well, sometimes I can’t drive 55. I attend to the many things that a tax-paying and law abiding citizen does to remain “legal”. The term “illegal immigrants” should be changed to reflect more of the truth of their activity, such as “law breaking immigrants”. I do believe that the USA is a great melting pot with many opportunities. But if one wants to be here, then be legal. How much love can “law braking immigrants” have for the USA if they blatantly disregard the law?
ccrn,
How much love of country can lawbreakers have?: about as much as the Boston Tea Party folks, the escaped slaves and their helpers, the suffragettes, the freedom riders and MLK, the nonviolent Vietnam War opposition, Senator Larry Craig, “Scooter” Libby, etc.
It’s a proud, patriotic tradition.