ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Wednesday, April 9, 1997               TAG: 9704090004
SECTION: EDITORIAL                PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JITENDRA S. DESAI


IMMIGRATION POLICY REQUIRES FIXES, BUT MUST REMAIN FAIR

MY FIRST REACTION when I read Louis P. Glenn's Feb. 21 commentary (``Aliens will destroy America") was that it was about space creatures who will land and destroy America. Then it became clear that he was referring to other aliens.

How many types of aliens are there? We know about dangerous and destructive aliens in "Mars Attacks" and "Independence Day" movies. We know of aliens like ET, which are soft and harmless. Then we have illegal aliens, legal aliens and political-refugee aliens.

Legal aliens and political refugees contribute to the U.S. economy rather than causing a deficit. I'd love to know the accuracy of the source of Glenn's claim that aliens cost America $45 billion a year.

I agree with Glenn about this: America follows a somewhat paradoxical and irrational immigration policy, and it needs to be changed. It seems that legal immigrants, who are very qualified and can contribute a lot to productivity, have to wait a long time to gain admission to this country while illegal immigrants come in droves.

Some years ago when I visited the Arizona/Mexico border at Nogales, I saw, in an hour's time, about 100 young people crossing through a pickup truck-size hole in the border's fence. Nothing was done to stop this, and it went on in broad daylight.

While illegal immigrants provide cheap labor, in the end they drain the economy by burdening the health-care, school and Social Security systems. The overworked and understaffed Immigration and Naturalization Service cannot keep up with this flood of people, which goes on constantly.

I also agree with Glenn's opinion about not granting U.S. citizenship simply by virtue of being born on U.S. soil. This is an absurdity that needs correcting as soon as possible.

My disagreements with his position are about legal immigrants. Those in the immigrant community that I know of firsthand, and happen to be a part of, are extremely pro-family, pro-work, pro-economic growth, anti-crime and pro-education. They're tax-paying, self-employed businessmen and professionals who create jobs and stimulate the economy.

And it's clear that second-generation immigrants are much more Americanized. They become much more a part of the mainstream of politics, religion, education and cultural activities. If Glenn is afraid of what this might bring to America, I think his concerns are misplaced.

In this electronic age, where a lot of countries partake of American customs and American products, a shortsighted approach by America to restrict immigration may result in countries' disapproving of American values, music and products. Trade barriers, as we are finding out, can be hurtful on either side.

As an English-speaking immigrant who is now a naturalized citizen, I've often endorsed making English a necessary language for all Americans. Language most certainly will help in rapid acculturation of aliens into the American mainstream.

I agree wholeheartedly that this is the best country in the world, and that Americans are very generous and kind people. I remember, during my early years here, how Americans gently corrected my naivete and misconceptions about this country.

As a very grateful individual who has been given a chance to advance in a lot of areas of life, I hope that America remains a kinder and gentler nation - and above all, a fair nation.

Jitendra S. Desai is a psychiatrist in Roanoke.


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