While I agree that our southern border has to be secured by a wall or whatever it takes, and that illegals convicted of serious crimes should be returned to their countries, I believe it would be morally reprehensible to deport most of the undocumented workers.

Our government could have stopped illegal immigration long ago if it had really wanted to. Instead, it paid lip service to the effort, turning a blind eye to the problem because of pressure from the agricultural and construction industries, which had, and still have, legitimate needs for the labor of these hard-working people.

Over the years, most of these people have married. They now have children. Those children are legal American citizens by virtue of their birth here in the U.S. To now break up these families by force is unthinkable.

For others who have not married, some would be returned to life-threatening situations. To deport them expecting that they could apply to come back legally is not the answer, as that can take eight to 10 years.

Our government, because of its inadequate action, has to accept responsibility for these people coming here. The only morally acceptable thing for the government to do is come up with a way for them to remain here in some legal capacity. I hope that other readers who agree will telephone each member of our congressional delegation and express their views.

As for the future legitimate labor needs of the agricultural and construction industries, the government needs to develop a guest worker program similar to the one they have in Canada, where 17,000 Mexican workers come each year and return home when their work is complete.

Terence Goodwin

Portland

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