Letter to the editor: Americans want less immigration

OPINION:

A new Gallup Poll shows that 55% of Americans want decreased immigration, while 16% favor an increase (“Most Americans want to decrease immigration into the U.S., says Gallup poll,” web, July 12). I wonder how Gallup worded the question.

I favor increased legal immigration, but I’d love to see a decrease to zero on illegal immigration. If we could cut illegal immigration, we could significantly increase legal immigration. Legal immigrants are vetted to ensure they are not terrorists or criminals, and legal immigrants must indicate an ability and willingness to be self-supporting.

As always, the world’s poorest, who find themselves in actual danger in their home countries, could still apply for asylum. In addition, if the migrant farmworker program could be made to work, the number of people with H-2A visas could be significantly increased. Unfortunately, too many of those workers currently enter the country under an H-2A visa and then desert their farm jobs almost immediately.

As for the wealthy, who rely on illegal immigration to supply them with cheap landscapers, maids and nannies, we might create a new type of visa to accommodate their needs. Under it, the rich would sponsor an immigrant who has registered for one of these new visas and been screened. The sponsor would then provide these immigrants with both employment and a place to live. Best-case scenario: They’d also be responsible for providing some kind of medical and workers’ compensation insurance, thus eliminating the burden on American taxpayers.

The most basic requirement for any permanent immigrant is that they want to become Americans and embrace the American concept of a melting pot, which accepts and incorporates the best of all cultures. They should also subscribe to the American dream, which allows each to go as far as their own hard work and ability allows.

It’s a thorny issue, but what we face now with unfettered illegal immigration is not sustainable.

KATHY DeMAY

Knightdale, North Carolina