Letter: Amnesty for illegals not fair

Monday, July 23, 2001 | 9:06 a.m.

President Bush is considering granting legal status to Mexicans living illegally in the United States so that they can get jobs. Why?

How does this benefit Americans and Mexican-Americans who have earned their way to legal citizenship? It doesn't. It buys votes, but not mine.

The standard of living in Mexico is unarguably tragic. Granting amnesty will not change that. But it does impact the United States, and Las Vegas is no exception.

Why can't President Bush consider amnesty for Mexicans who make the effort and pass an English proficiency test (in English, not in Spanish like the driver's test). We make Americans do it for jobs, so why the special treatment?

Granting amnesty to the unemployable will add to the welfare rolls in a country that is already drowning with people on the dole, funded by money that seems to come mostly out of my paycheck, while I struggle to pay my way.

I voted for George Bush. It won't happen again.

LYNDA WASKOM

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