Editor:

Your article on the Hispanic community of Humboldt County ("Preparados," April 9) was very timely and intelligent. These people deserve a chance to integrate into our society and contribute to it in a positive way. In order to be realistic about this goal, it's time to set a date and close down the border so that those who are already here will still have a healthy economy to help them support their families. Naturalize everyone that's already here, and don't let the unmigrated make you feel guilty about it, just get it done.

The way we're going is unsustainable; our resources to help these folks will not last forever. We're all immigrants to this land. The Americas were completely empty of people until they migrated from other parts of the world 15,000 years ago. As a wealthy society, we have the responsibility of charity toward those who are less fortunate, starting with our own people and extending to other countries afterward. We can't feed the immigrants we've got if we keep bringing new ones into the country. Ever seen someone that just won't quit having children because they're too stupid? That's us.

Janelle Andersen, Eureka

Editor:

Need to send a rebuttal to your extremely pro illegal immigrant recent edition.

At no point in the article were the many ill effects on our society even mentioned. For starters, the main problem with massive third world immigration is the pressure it places on our own working poor. I find it no mere coincidence that our homeless problem coincides with the porous southern border, and the arrival of millions of Mexicans taking all of the entry level jobs and cheaper housing.

Next, the cost of Ms. Bonilla and her five children, at $8,400 per pupil, is $42,000. This in addition to all medical, housing, etc. they may get.

The lady who is afraid of the police, etc. Go home, apply for immigration, wait to be admitted, no fear.

The lady who worries about being pulled over for no driver's license and no insurance. Those police are here to protect us, and are doing their job.

The person in the article who states immigration laws may be legal, but not just. According to whom? Mexico itself repels all Central American poor who attempt to enter Mexico illegally.

The Democratic Party has enabled this massive illegal immigration, as a vote-buying strategy. (More Mexicans in the U.S. than the entire population of Canada.) When you see Obama working to allow illegals here to resist deportation, you realize they are the first group in our history to insist on coming here on their terms. Not ours. The lady who needs an interpreter to speak with authorities. Solution: Learn English!

This is the first group in our history to insist on not assimilating, and using their language and culture instead of ours.

Mexicans have strong family values, and strong work ethic. That does not give them the right to ignore our laws.

Joshua Kinch, Eureka

Editor:

This is not the letter I started out to write. My first effort was a rather heated response to some racist comments — there's no other word for it — aimed at undocumented immigrants in the letters to the editor and the Comment of the Week (April 16). This followed Linda Stansberry's thoughtful piece, "Preparados," about Latino organizers in Humboldt County.

Over the years, I have mentored a fair number of newcomers to this country. And I have yet to meet a single individual among them harboring a "sense of entitlement." I wish I could say the same about some of the commenters on the North Coast Journal's website.

Well, I suspect that the haters would prefer to live in a place where there are no brown-skinned people to disturb their dreams of a perfect Wonder Bread America. But here's a reality check: There are over 11 million unauthorized immigrants residing in the U.S., with the majority from Mexico and Central America. They are not going anywhere anytime soon.

Even if it were feasible to deport them all (it is not), it would be an economic and social disaster. A 2010 study by the Federal Reserve Bank of S.F. revealed that immigrants, regardless of their status, contribute far more to the economy than they receive in social services.

I could list many more positive contributions that immigrants make to our society. But then, why bother responding to cowards who single out the most vulnerable people to pick on? Wouldn't it be better to focus on the efforts of the people who are doing positive things for themselves, and in the process, making their community a better place? ¡Pues claro!

¡Fuertes aplausos para los organizadores! And kudos to Linda Stansberry for her excellent piece.

Lisa Pelletier, Arcata