Letters to the editor

Department of Criminal Justice

George Mason University

Fairfax

Amnesty by another name

Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter and Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis display an incredible ignorance of how our immigration system works if they believe that “green card” status doesn’t mean a path to citizenship. It most certainly does. And they are obviously buying into President Bush’s nonsense argument that amnesty is not “automatic citizenship.” Again, anyone with knowledge realizes that even legal immigrants are not granted automatic citizenship before a green card (“Republicans pan Specter immigration alternative,” Page 1, Wednesday).

In fact, amnesty in this context simply means waiving the usual punishment (deportation) and allowing the violator to keep what it is he broke the law to obtain, namely, a job and residency in the U.S. By that definition, Mr. Specter’s plan is an amnesty, and would only encourage future immigration lawbreaking.

The American people made it very clear to our senators that a secure border and interior enforcement is a prerequisite to discussion of any other immigration matters. After two decades of ignoring the problem, Congress owes us at least that much.

MARK A. MENDLOVITZ

Beverly Hills, Calif.