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November 9, 2009

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Letter: U.S. should build bridges, not walls

Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007 | 6:57 a.m.

Are we not all immigrants in America, even the first American Indians from Asia? Wouldn't a system of registering "illegal" aliens provide legitimate identification (including fingerprints) and be helpful in combating terrorism?

For the industries that can prove American workers aren't available to fill jobs, an expanded system of work cards for "registered" aliens would enable employers to hire them. Federal and state income taxes should be collected to support the communities in which they reside. Even Social Security and Medicare taxes could be collected to bring in more money to those programs.

If a "registered" alien goes through the regular application process to become a citizen, only then would he become eligible for those benefits; if not, the system benefits. For the most part, aren't we all parents who are willing to work hard to achieve a better life for our children?

In this century, what enlightened country builds walls to try to keep people out? It seems an effort in futility. And what happened to the Christian ethic of "do unto others as you would have them do unto you"?

Amy Thomason, Las Vegas

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