Dear Editor:

The first thing one should do before writing an article on the subject is to do some research, not just repeat talking points from a party line.

It is also beneficial to have a working knowledge of the process. For instance, there was never a promise to only deport people who had committed and been convicted of crimes other than the one of illegal entry to the United States. And, it is a crime to enter illegally.

Rather, the promise, which is being kept, is to put the main focus on those who have committed crimes other than illegal entry, gang members and drug dealers. That is a fact.

It is also true that the statement was made right from the first that if cities and states would not cooperate with ICE holds, and continue to release criminal aliens back onto the streets that ICE would go to where the criminals aliens were, thus be more likely to encounter aliens whose only offense was illegal entry, which would then cause those people to be detained for deportation as well.

So the “compassionate” stance actually exposes more people to immediate detainment and deportation.

Employers were advised that it was their duty to determine if the people they hire were able to legally work. That is as it should be. A recent work place raid, with a warrant for a specific purpose, netted several criminal aliens, as well as minors, who may have been forced into labor to pay off the debt of being smuggled into this country.

To the lady using the Bible in the letter to the editor on July 30, she seems to have missed the part about obeying the law.

Finally, in response to Sheila Harris’ July 30 column about working in a chicken plant. Yep, extremely awful work. I did it. My daughter worked her way through college on graveyard shift at George’s while carrying a full load of courses, with two little daughters.

That being said, my Hispanic husband and in-laws might find it a bit condescending that some seem to think that Hispanics are only fit for this kind of work, which is the implication here.

If my friend told me she was illegal, I would kindly suggest she take action to legalize her status. Because, I believe the most compassionate thing one can do is encourage people to do right, no matter the feelings.

And, the last thing I will say today is that if anyone believes the immigration laws should be reformed, e-mail your reps and senators. I personally have given my opinion to them on the subject. For one thing, I suggest a much simpler guest worker program for unskilled labor. Our current system makes it far too complicated.

In the meantime, I expect all our law enforcement at every level to enforce the laws enacted by congress and I expect our citizens to support that.

Kathy Casey

Cassville