The proposed new amnesty program to legalize 6 million undocumented workers (Page 1, June 5) would give preference to people who have knowingly broken the law by residing and working in the U.S. over people who have chosen to pursue the legal route to obtain an immigrant visa.
The last time amnesty was granted, the waiting list for Mexican citizens applying for immigrant visas came to a halt for more than a year. The Immigration and Naturalization Service’s present rate for granting legal immigrant visas to Mexicans is more than 10 years. This process could be sped up so people who want to be reunited with their families could come here legally. Law-abiding Mexicans should have preference over those who are here because they broke the law. Amnesty gives priority to the law-breakers.
In five years, when these law-breaking people become citizens, they most likely will not view the travesties of justice by our politicians the same way law-abiding citizens do.
