Immigrants

Re "Immigration a factor in budget math," Column, Feb. 2 Finally a sensible, insightful article about the drain that illegal immigrants place on the state budget. California residents and government officials need to face the facts -- we can no longer afford illegal immigration. For every illegal immigrant hired as a nanny, maid, gardener, meat cutter, driver or agricultural worker, the public is paying for the education and medical needs of their families, to the tune of billions of dollars.

A few years ago, I wrote in response to a Susan Spano article about how a person's skin color could come into play while traveling in Paris. Since then, I've traveled to France every year, and each time I've avoided Paris. But after four years, I decided to try Paris again. This time I traveled with a friend who, like me, is also a non-white American, To our surprise, most of the Parisian attitudes toward Americans seemed the opposite of what I had experienced. As we strolled down the street, immigrants selling Eiffel Tower key chains shouted at us, "Obama, Obama, come, we give you special price."

I enjoyed Reed Johnson's article about Cary Joji Fukunaga's film and experiences ["Crossing Borders," March 8]. I look forward to seeing the movie. Perhaps Mr. Fukunaga might be interested in how immigrants like those depicted in his film live in Southern California. It's a common occurrence for undocumented immigrant families to share 1,200 square feet divided between several families with each family having between five and 15 members. One family I know lived in a garage with a concrete slab floor, no insulation and no toilet.

U.S. immigration authorities routinely delay, deny or botch medical care for detained immigrants in poorly equipped facilities nationwide, according to separate reports released by two advocacy groups. Human Rights Watch and the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center blame the problems on unskilled or indifferent staffers, overcrowding, bureaucratic red tape, language barriers and limited services available to detainees of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The agency responded that its Division of Immigration Health Services gives detainees general and emergency healthcare, including dental, chronic and mental health care.

Researchers may have discovered a mass grave for nearly five dozen 19th century Irish immigrants who died of cholera weeks after traveling to Pennsylvania to build a railroad. Historians at Immaculata University have known for years about the 57 immigrants who died in August 1832 but could not find the grave. Human bones discovered recently near the suburban Philadelphia university may at last reveal the men's final resting place -- and possibly allow researchers to identify the remains and repatriate them.

Hundreds of U.S. census employees gathered with city officials outside Los Angeles City Hall on Monday morning to kick off the first major field operations for the 2010 field count. "Census data touches our lives every day," said Esther Cepeda, manager of the local census office. L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar told the audience it was important to count each person. "The groups who are most under-counted are the people who need our help the most," he said, specifically referring to the homeless, immigrants or people of color.

Re "Citizens snared in the net," April 9 Another ugly chapter in the history of the United States is being repeated. During the Depression, as jobs disappeared, blame for the poor economy was placed on the backs of Mexican American citizens of the United States, many of whom were railroaded off to the country of their ancestors. Now U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement may be attempting to again send the children of these same Americans to a foreign country. When will our education system learn and start teaching that we Americans of Mexican descent have been in this country for centuries -- even before the signing of the Declaration of Independence?

Re "In ketchup-theft trial, court system gets the flavor of an O.C. original" and "Illegal immigration slows in California," April 15 In The Times, I read about a jury trial for someone who stole a used bottle of ketchup presumed to be about half gone. The alleged purpose of the trial was "to follow the letter of the law." In the same day's newspaper, it was reported that the number of illegal immigrants in California is estimated to be 2.7 million. These people, who came across the border illegally, cannot be touched unless they are caught breaking another law. Is a half-bottle of ketchup more sacred than the sanctity of our borders?

A rule limiting access to lawyers for immigrants facing deportation has been tossed out by the Obama administration. The rule, issued in the waning days of the George W. Bush administration, said that immigrants facing deportation did not have an automatic right to an effective lawyer. Immigrants rights groups objected and asked the incoming administration to discard it. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. said in a statement that the decision by his predecessor, Michael B. Mukasey, had not allowed for enough public comment on the issue.

Twenty-three illegal immigrants were caught by U.S. Border Patrol agents on a Carlsbad beach Friday after wading ashore from a suspected smuggling boat, according to authorities. The Mexican immigrants were spotted by a patrol boat about 4 a.m. off Ponto Beach in Carlsbad. The boat got away, heading south, after dropping off the immigrants, authorities said. Maritime smuggling incidents off the San Diego coast have increased sharply as trafficking groups take to the high seas to avoid bolstered enforcement on land.