Letter: U.S. should grant Mexicans dual citizenship

Wednesday, July 25, 2001 | 8:52 a.m.

I have been reading the letters from the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Las Vegas Sun since the beginning of July. All I read is rhetoric about how our poor children will be exposed to a dual language -- Spanish.

Then Sheri Kenney writes in the Sun about President Bush catering to criminals by granting illegal immigrants legal status. Being of Mexican descent, I don't find her mentality a bit unusual or uncommon. I, as well as my ancestors from generations back, have learned to live with "Why don't you go back from where you came from?" My ancestors were already here before the United States conquered the Southwest.

The "illegal immigrants" are here to work the jobs that Kenney wouldn't dream of doing, since it would be beneath her dignity. And when it comes time to do their IRS forms they cannot fill out a tax form because they are not here legally. Refunds that they are entitled to receive for interest paid on their homes, child care expenses, dependent credits, medical expenses, etc., go unclaimed.

The United States should grant all Mexicans dual citizenship, as Mexico has done.

This would give us back our legal heritage and improve the economy for both countries, and do away with the prejudices people such as Kenney have shown us all our lives.

DRUSILLA M. G. NEVAREZ