It's hard to know where to begin with this letter, but I'll give it a try:

1. The fact that you feel it necessary to make a distinction between the terms "undocumented immigrants" and "illegal aliens" basically gives away your bias from the beginning. They're the same thing. This is not Fox News or MSNBC. There's no reason why we can't talk about this like adults.

2. The fact that you claim to not know what "Latino" means says some pretty unflattering things about you. It is astounding that an elected official would publicly and cavalierly shrug his shoulders and state "It's a free country" when talking about legislation that allows the profiling and detainment of a group of people based on how they look; legislation that could easily infringe on the basic rights of U.S. citizens. This is not Nazi Germany circa 1939 (at least not yet it isn't?)

3. If we had a multi-trillion dollar magic wand and actually could send every Central and South American here illegally back to their home countries, significant sectors of the US economy would take a huge hit and potentially collapse; the construction industry being the first one that comes to mind. Is it right that they are here working for lower wages and not paying taxes? No, but that is a very complex issue that needs to be tackled with guest worker programs, guest worker identification efforts, punishment/fining of US companies using undocumented workers, and minimum wage laws that ensure it won't be cheaper to hire a guest worker over a US citizen. It is pretty na?ve and simplistic to suggest that we should round these millions of people up and send them back home. With what personnel? With what money? Where will you find replacements for them on all the constructions sites, in all the restaurant kitchens, in all the farm fields, in all the commercial cleaning companies, etc., etc?
4. Exactly how does someone who is here illegally collect Social Security? One doesn?t. It is an urban legend spread via chain e-mail that is easily debunked here: www.hoaxbusters.org/faq.html and here: http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_social_security_petition.htm among other places. Back in 2006, the Senate did consider, and then dropped, an amendment to the immigration reform bill (S. 2611) which would have prohibited formerly undocumented workers from accruing benefits based on Social Security contributions they made before attaining legal status. The whole thing was tables in conference committee. Again, the fact that an elected town official is capable of taking such internet hoax bait is discouraging to say the least.

5. I appreciate your heritage and the contributions/sacrifices that your family has made to this nation, but the fact that your family immigrated to the U.S. does not make you an expert in the complex issues that surround the current immigration debate. In the end, unless one is a Native American, we are ALL immigrants. It is only fairly recently that this country has had strict immigration laws, so a hundred years ago we basically had "illegal aliens" flooding into the country all the time. My Huguenot ancestors certainly didn't fill out any naturalization forms. Should my whole family be deported back to France?

Mexicans have been crossing the border back and forth since this country was founded. That doesn't mean that the current situation is not a profound problem that does not need to be addressed; it does, but it needs to be done in a rational manner that preserves both our national borders and our freedoms.

Ted Warren,

Great article in todays WSJ. Page A15 Tittled
Arizona's Real Problem: Drug Crime written by Mary Anastasia O'Grady

I think you will like the article and it may open a few eyes to anyone who reads it. It's too long to cut and paste.

I forgot to add. The term illegal aliens is itself offensive. These people are human beings not aliens. It really rankles me when someone refers to them that way. I spent many vacations in Texas and love the Tex-Mex Culture. The Mexicans are a beautiful people with a great culture. You can't pick out a few bad apples and use a broard brush to paint the entire population as bad. Personally I would prefer if those here now with no criminal record would be they be given a path towards citizenship. I think they have earned it. Everyone should try to empathize with their situation. Who you do any less for your family?

Drug violence IS the real problem in all the border states, and that is something we bring on ourselves. Supply and demand...

Ted,

I guess you read the article. I wish everyone could have and it may have opened their eyes or hearts a bit more. We blame Mexico for the drug trade but Americans are the consumers. If you want to eliminate violence stop your children from taking drugs. I don't want nor expect any authority to stop people because their skin colour happens to be brown. I thought we were long past that. Even the police authorities in many counties in Arizona are balking at this. Why should they be forced to do something that, in my opinion is unconstitutional. If people would only talk to the Mexicans they would realise they are no different then us or our forefathers.

There are multiple issues all wrapped up in this. The drug trade & crime issue, the border security issue, the issue of how best to handle the millions of people who are in this country illegally, the immigration reform issue (i.e. how should the LEGAL immigration process work, the costs of health and human services for those in this country illegally, the economic issues surrounding low wage labor and companies who illegally hire, etc.

Each of these issues is complex and there are complex interactions between all of them. There are multiple potential solutions as well - each with their own good & bad points.

I have a cousin in law who lives in Phoenix with his lovely Mexican wife who they spent much time & money to naturalize and gain US Citizenship. I asked him about this law. He and his wife both support it. The fact is there there is a problem of crisis proportions in the border states with Mexico. We as a country and those states in particular cannot simply open the border. This problem has been growing and continues to grow while the Federal Gov't refuses to act, or acts so minimally that it practically equates with non-action. AZ fest compelled to act - and I think the fact that nearly 60% of the country supports AZ's action (according to a recent poll I saw - though I can't quote where)indicates that a significant portion of our country want a comprehensive set of policies and enforcement mechanisms put in place.

I personally feel that the border should be secured, and reasonable Visa and full immigration policies put in place. People coming into this country illegally places them at risk from criminals who take advantage of them:
1. Those who charge them to smuggle them in.
2. Those who entrap and enslave them litterally into prostitution, drug running, slave labor, etc.
3. Unscrupulous US employers who pay below minimum wage or off the books to avoid expense and tax laws.

These are desperate people and my heart goes out to them. However, neither can we as a country just open the door and let everyone in without any limits or documentation process. We cannot afford it and the minimal if any tax revenue from illegal immigrants doesn't offset the cost. There MUST be some limits, and they MUST be enforced. In the absence of FEDERAL action I cannot blame the States for feeling the need to take action.