Sample Letter For Concerned Citizens
Back To Immigration Home.
Dear
I am a California resident writing about the need to reform our immigration laws. The fact that our immigration laws are broken is increasingly in the news. Communities on the border are overwhelmed with undocumented immigrants who are risking their lives by coming here to make a better life for their families. Hundreds of these people are dying in the desert trying to cross our border. Underground enterprises to smuggle immigrants and provide them with fake documents have become a big business. Radio and talk show hosts who make their living by dividing Americans against each other have demonized undocumented immigrants whose only crime is to work hard without the proper papers. Our outdated system now keeps many families separated from loved ones for years because of an inadequate supply of family visas.
(statement about why current immigration laws make no sense and must be changed, with example to illustrate point)
The status quo is not acceptable. Congress must act in a responsible, practical and nonpartisan way. It is not enough to simply "enforce our laws." Our laws must be changed so that they are enforceable. Any comprehensive immigration reform bill must be pragmatic and bring our immigration laws into conformance with reality. To this end, any proposed legislation should:
- Provide legal channels for the future flow of immigrant workers, many of whom are needed in our rapidly growing service industries. If these workers are given legal opportunities to immigrate, they will not have to pay smugglers and risk their lives to cross our border.
- Create a real solution to the problem of the undocumented population, now estimated to be approximately 11 million. These immigrants should be given a chance to earn their way out of the shadows. After paying an appropriate fine and jumping through many hoops in order to meet specific requirements, they should eventually have the opportunity to become permanent U.S. residents.
- Provide for enforcement that will be better targeted to keeping us safe from those who
These measure are practical and address the issues we as a nation face. The alternative, to deport all of the undocumented and "seal the borders," as proposed in the harmful H.R. 4437, is not practical. I urge you to take a realistic approach to reform and make it comprehensive.
Sincerely,