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Dear Editor:
I heard about Rep. Gephardt's immigrant initiative and was glad to hear that someone is bringing the issue of immigration back to the table. I hope this becomes law. There are many hard working, law abiding people here who contribute to our communities, and we all benefit from their presence. I am concerned, though, about the condition that people who will/may be considered for legal status had to pay taxes during their minimum two year employment. I know a large number of immigrants, and I work with and translate for over a hundred (currently) foreign workers, and very few of them claim the correct number of dependents or file taxes at the end of the year. I will admit that this frustrates and angers me, because I lose over 30% of my weekly check to federal and state deductions, but I am concerned for the people who have worked hard, obeyed the law, and been positive additions to our communities who did not pay their fair share of taxes. I think Gephardt should amend his initiative to state that these people will be given a set period of time to repay their correct amount of state and federal tax and then be considered for legal status. I hope that all wage earners, regardless of the amount of time they work in the U.S. each year, will be held to the same tax laws, and that they will support and contribute financially to our communities. I think everyone should be required to provide proof that they support the number of dependents they claim. The immigrants who have not contributed should still be considered for legal status, I think, if they pay their back taxes and have otherwise been law-abiding residents. I hope this initiative becomes reality, and I encourage all of you to write to your state and federal representatives and urge them to support this.
Thank you, |
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