Stand firm, House members!

I finally caught a break from my two-play rehearsals this morning and so decided to write to my congressman about immigration as my elected Senators have shown themselves beyond redemption.

To the Hon. Rep. Steven LaTourette:

I am writing to you to encourage you and other members of the House of Representatives to hold the line against the abominable immigration bill making its way through the Senate.

As poll after poll has shown, and echoing my personal feelings, Americans want illegal immigration shut off before we even begin to discuss what to do with the people already here. We DO NOT want lawbreakers in this country granted amnesty (which, despite the Senate's contortions to avoid the word, is precisely what is being floated) and we especially DO NOT want people here illegally to be turned into citizens and then granted permission to bring all their family members here.

As a citizen of the United States, I demand that legislators support my interests. Those include:

• Shutting off the flow of people entering this country illegally through whatever means necessary. Border enforcement, a wall and enforcement of existing hiring laws all come to mind.
• Immediate deportation for all illegals convicted of crimes.
• End the "anchor baby" farce.
• Quit giving Mexico "favored nation" status regarding immigration...the country and its people are abusing their proximity to our country. If immigration reform is necessary, then consider upping the quota from other countries with thousands of highly-skilled people on immigrant waiting lists rather than opening the floodgates to unskilled laborers.
• No Amnesty. No path to citizenship for people here illegally. No way.
• No benefits for illegals...and NO SOCIAL SECURITY - is everyone in the Senate taking stupid pills?
• No guest worker legislation until illegal incursions have been verifiably stopped.

You might think me anti-Mexican, but you would be wrong. You might also think me anti-immigrant, but you would again be wrong. We have hosted 12 foreign exchange students over the past eight years, including a Mexican boy, and our fondest wish would be for all of these very-capable young people to live here. However, I recognize that a sovereign country must have rules regarding who is privileged to reside within its borders...we are a country, not a McDonalds where everyone can be served. Immigration decisions must be made with the welfare of the country and its existing citizens uppermost in mind.

In summation, please remain firmly in opposition to the Senate abomination enabled, to my everlasting shame, by my two Ohio senators. Enforcement first and no amnesty!

The Rantmeister