Reader Scott H. sent the following comment. While I agree with some of it and disagree with some, I believe it is exceptionally representative of the majority of Americans.

The question I have for this forum is, what has happened to the Mexican sense of national pride? If their country is only worth leaving, what does that say about the nature of this problem? It's not so much the outflux of Mexican people over our border, but in my opinion it is a complete infidelity to their own nation, and our willingness to do nothing which causes a further breakdown in their own nation's institutions and infrastructure. Illegal immigrants are now sending the monetary equivalent of our entire automotive industry into other countries, with Mexico clearly gaining the majority of this extra income. Why can no one discuss how this truly exacerbates the problem not only for the United States, but for Mexico as well?

Furthermore, I take a particularly deep offense at the notion that American workers are lazy. If that's true, doesn't logic point out a fallacious syllogism - how did lazy people build a Nation that everybody wants to come to so badly?

I used to be a culinary chef, but I can no longer work in that field because of the enormous devaluation that chef's wages have undergone over the past ten years. In some kitchens, I couldn't communicate with the line and prep cooks because they either could not speak English or pretended not to. The quality of prep, service and sanitation in many restaurants has been seriously degraded. Sanitation courses had to be taught bilingually, and often there is actually no sanitation taught in English anymore. I have lost an honorable profession owing to illegal immigration, and I was far from lazy.

Here in Reno, Nevada on Galletti way is an informal gathering place for day labor, over three-quarters of whom are illegal immigrants. Not only does this take away from legitimate state and Federal programs by undermining the affordability to businesses needing temporary help from legitimate citizens and people who are trying to better their lives and get a start away from poverty, it sets up exploitation for these illegal workers. The businesses and small contractors who hire these workers are very much traitors to the United States and should be treated accordingly.

If we were to open the borders, as some of my liberal friends would wish to do, we are sending a clear message to those who wait patiently within Mexico for a legitimate visa that squatters have a better chance of succeeding in America than those who do things properly. I resent that at this time, I see my neighborhood rentals with twelve to fifteen working illegals in a single family dwelling, and our city and state government ignores the problem and refuses to do anything about it, as does the press. What are we afraid of? Would you allow a stranger who barged into your home to stay there? If you called the Police about this, would you expect them to show up?

This is neither a partisan nor a racist issue. This is about a nation that is hemhorraging its lifeblood and taking no responsibility except to make demands. I would call for border enforcement and a roundup of those who are here illegally. This is about manners on its most basic level. It's about people who are traitors to and deserters of their own country, who are not making things better where they stand. I do not support traitors, and I will never accept a foreign flag being waved in my United States. As Democrats, we need to find in this issue a non-partisan effort to educate the public as to the true nature and impact of what should be termed an invasion. Not every Democrat is a liberal. We still stand as a party for the people, and that is the very basis of my belief in our platform. I want what is good for our own before I give any thought to helping traitors.