One-Sided Immigration ‘Strategy’

The May 8 Style article “No Turning Back,” on the efforts of Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) to change immigration laws, outlined his strategy, which was “designed to project the most sympathetic image possible” of illegal immigrants by arguing that immigration enforcement separates families.

That strategy ignores the impact on families of failing to enforce our immigration laws. Hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants who have committed crimes are in state jails for murder, assault, gang activity and drug charges; more than 15 percent of federal inmates are illegal immigrants. Many of these crimes could have been prevented if our immigration laws had been enforced before the crimes occurred. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/18/AR2009051802817.htmlBy Rep. Lamar Smith — Washington Post