Immigration: Don't reward illegal border crossing

In the baffling editorial on immigration (TNT off the wire, 6/28), the only concern expressed is for for the “cruel” fear of deportation by illegal immigrants, while ignoring the reason they are fearful.

When anyone chooses to break the laws of any country there are and should be consequences. Those who came here illegally did so as a gamble that U.S. policy would be lenient enough to let them stay, but such a gamble does not confer a right.

It is easy to understand why millions of people from all over the world want to escape poverty, persecution or war in their homelands and come to the U.S. Most of our ancestors came here for one of those reasons. But the U.S. cannot admit everyone who wants to immigrate, and saying that those who are audacious enough to break the law should get amnesty simply because they did so is an insult to those who went through the steps to enter legally, as well as to those millions who are waiting to enter legally.

The U.S. needs immigration reform, and tearing apart families or deporting productive workers should not be its goal. But neither should rewarding those who broke the law.

This story was originally published July 5, 2016 at 10:38 AM with the headline "Immigration: Don't reward illegal border crossing."