Federal government must address issue of illegal immigration

Let me start out by saying that I don't believe I have a prejudiced bone in me. My own mother immigrated to this country by herself when she was 16. The difference between what my mother did and what the illegal immigrants do today is vast.

She had to apply and put up a large sum of money in the form of a bond so that the government could monitor her and make sure that she did not go on welfare

The first thing she did upon arrival was to enroll in night school and learn proper English. I don't believe she has spoken Spanish since. Moreover, every job she has ever had was accounted for and all payroll taxes were duly paid. My mother became active in her children's education. When she salutes the American flag, she does so with an uncanny flair of pride and admiration.

I truly believe we should help all those who are in our country; however, I also believe that anyone who enters our borders should do so in a legal manner. I have read many opinion articles in this paper over the past year and it amazes me that certain individuals with partisan agendas actually attempt to justify the illegal status of illegal immigrants by saying it is a national issue and not a local one.

I'm no economist, but it doesn't take one to realize that much of our local property taxes go to support the school districts. If we took the thousands of illegal immigrants out of our schools in New Jersey, we would have sufficient revenue to support the many school programs that are now in jeopardy in Freehold Borough and elsewhere.

I concur with Eva Costello's notion (Letters to the Editor, News Transcript, March 28) that the Abbott school districts are inherently unfair, but I also advocate no reform to the Abbott program until all illegal immigrants are removed from our schools.

It appears that the main reason why the federal government refuses to deport the illegal immigrants is because they help to keep inflation in check. By working for minimum wages and living in substandard conditions, they keep labor prices down and hence the prices of goods and services are also kept in check.

If we followed the advice of some of our opinion writers, then by definition we would have to open our borders to everyone and anyone who desires to come here. If that is the case, our population could swell to over a billion people since much of the oppressed world would seek refuge here. This line of faulty thinking defies logic and exceeds beyond the threshold of rational reasoning.

Our federal government has conveniently turned its back and placed an undue financial burden on the local residents. I truly hope the federal government implements a work program (with a right to citizenship).

I believe this program should have strict quotas and I believe it should go into effect immediately. This will not happen unless you lobby your federally elected officials who have been lulled into complacency by lower inflation.

Jack Litsky

Marlboro