Immigration: Once, L.A. Was a Beautiful Place

Re “Immigration? Oh, That!” editorial, Oct. 21: I am one of the thousands who contacted Bob Schieffer, requesting him to address the immigration issue during the third presidential debate. I am a native of Los Angeles, born in the early 1930s, when Los Angeles was beautiful and uncrowded. I had an excellent business, but decided to move to San Diego because of the invasion of immigrants that descended on the Glendale area.

Immigration both legal and illegal is a serious problem. It has perilously affected our schools by not only overcrowding but by having to teach students who do not speak English. Our hospitals are unable to treat indigent patients without rationing care to other patients, who must supplant lost revenue.

Of course, California leads the nation in immigrant population, and this is partly to blame for our $38-billion deficit.

Financial consequences are only part of the problem. Immigration has changed our social structure, reduced wages, displaced workers, caused crime and is overcrowding our cities, causing urban sprawl and environmental pollution.

We must have a moratorium on legal immigration and better protection of our borders.

Byron Slater

San Diego

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Actually, you overlooked former prosecutor John Kerry’s very brave statement during the third debate. Kerry said, “It’s against the law in the United States to hire people illegally, and we ought to be enforcing that law properly.”

I look forward to the day that CEOs who hire illegals are seen doing a perp walk on TV. Maybe on that day we can begin to have a rational discussion of immigration policy in this country.

Jim Sevin

La Mirada