In response to the letters from Mr. Davis and Mr. Van Tielen, I would like to offer a different perspective to the problems that exist with "illegal aliens."
I commend Mr. Van Tielen's family for their diligence and perseverance as they entered this country. It would be nice if all could apply and wait for the bureaucratic process to work. In the meantime, who of us as U.S. citizens would fill the enormous demand for menial task jobs; i.e., restaurants, fast foods, hotels, etc., and hard physical labor, such as vegetable and fruit farming, mining, railroad maintenance? In years past, Chinese labor practically built the transcontinental railroads. Mexicans, Italians, Greeks and other ethnic groups worked the mines and maintained the railroads, and still do to a great extent.
Were they all here legally with visas and work permits? Suppose another approach was taken to solve this great demand for labor that the average U.S. citizen will not fill. Allow employers to grant work visas to all who apply that are willing to work and follow general rules of conduct as all employees should. This may lead to unemployment compensation in some cases. Why not, if they have worked at permanent jobs and have earned it?
Where is the compassion of "brotherly love" and help to the "poor and needy" that all religious denominations advocate? Is it only at Christmas time? Also, let me make one last point regarding obeying our laws in this great land. Should we handcuff and detain all those who are caught breaking the speed limit, no seat belts, running red lights, etc.? Who hasn't broken one of these laws at one time or another? Our lives are daily more at risk by these infractions of the law than by security infractions.
Glenn M. Jensen
Salt Lake City