As someone who came to the U.S. legally many years ago, I find Nicholas Kristof's column in The New York Times rather sad.

Mr. Kristof wrote "Immigration enriches you and me":

What most defines the 11 million undocumented immigrants in America is not illegality but undaunted courage and ambition for a better life.

What separates their families from most of ours is simply the passage of time – and the lottery of birth.

Yes, immigrants have enriched our country.  I think that my parents, and the other nearly 1 million Cubans who escaped communism, were "a net plus" for the U.S.  Add immigrants from Eastern Europe, Vietnam, and Latin America, and the U.S. is better off because of them.

The issue today is "illegal immigration," or people who came in without papers and put a burden on social services, as we see with these kids currently flooding schools.

Legal and orderly immigration is great.  Illegal and chaotic immigration is very bad for the country.

It's hard to believe that Mr. Kristof does not understand the difference.  He tries to say that a legal and illegal immigrants are the same.  They are not, and that is not a reflection on the immigrants or their intentions.

I understand why they want to come to the U.S.  All I ask is that we bring them in an orderly fashion that is humane and makes sense for millions of Americans who can't find work or have seen their wages take a hit.
 
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