| Letters to the Editor (2008) |
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Dear Editor,
I first considered responding to the invitation in Olympia Meola's
story entitled "Bill to Bar Illegals at Colleges Advances." I was
brought short by the overwhelming tendency of the posters to view the
question of undocumented persons in Virginia in absolute you're either
with us or against us terms. Virginians are rightly proud of the fine
reputations earned by actions of the state assembly over time. At this
desperate hour on the bill I call again upon our state delegates and
senators to reintroduce reasoned, fair, and deliberate consideration on
Bill 14 introduced by my delegate, Chris Peace.
Bill 14 is designed to prohibit undocumented immigrants from
attending state institutions of higher learning. I share Governor
Kaine's concern that passage of the bill may signal to our global
partners that Virginia only welcomes some outsiders. My opposition to
Bill 14 stems from a more direct empirical position. The experience of
Arizona from having passed a somewhat less restrictive high education is
the leaving of affected talented students--because their parents cannot
afford paying out-of-state tuition. Oklahoma too has felt the unintended
consequence of losing thousands of workers to other states, thereby
forcing businesses to close. We also need to be mindful of th chilling
effect the legislation has had on people in these and other states who
look like the illegals.
I specifically call upon our legislators to recognize several facts
to defeat Bill 14: (1) particularly among those "illegals" who entered
our country prior to age ten, they are by now highly Americanized; (2)
many come from financially challenged families; (3) as children of
immigrants, the parents and children are highly motivated to achieve
success in this land of opportunity; and (4) why would our taxpayers
want to waste their investments already made on these children, who by
the way include "illegal" workers? In an increasingly competitive
world, Virginia and the nation can ill afford to lose some of the most
talented and motivated of our youngsters.
Apart from outright voting down Bill 14, in the spirit of reason and
justice, I call upon Delegate Peace and supporters of his bill to exempt
children of illegals who entered the country prior to age ten and can
demonstrate otherwise long-term residence in the state.
Satoshi Ito
221 Four Islands Trail
Lanexa, VA 23089
(804) 966-2646
itoathome@cox.net
I first considered responding to the invitation in Olympia Meola's
story entitled "Bill to Bar Illegals at Colleges Advances." I was
brought short by the overwhelming tendency of the posters to view the
question of undocumented persons in Virginia in absolute you're either
with us or against us terms. Virginians are rightly proud of the fine
reputations earned by actions of the state assembly over time. At this
desperate hour on the bill I call again upon our state delegates and
senators to reintroduce reasoned, fair, and deliberate consideration on
Bill 14 introduced by my delegate, Chris Peace.
Bill 14 is designed to prohibit undocumented immigrants from
attending state institutions of higher learning. I share Governor
Kaine's concern that passage of the bill may signal to our global
partners that Virginia only welcomes some outsiders. My opposition to
Bill 14 stems from a more direct empirical position. The experience of
Arizona from having passed a somewhat less restrictive high education is
the leaving of affected talented students--because their parents cannot
afford paying out-of-state tuition. Oklahoma too has felt the unintended
consequence of losing thousands of workers to other states, thereby
forcing businesses to close. We also need to be mindful of th chilling
effect the legislation has had on people in these and other states who
look like the illegals.
I specifically call upon our legislators to recognize several facts
to defeat Bill 14: (1) particularly among those "illegals" who entered
our country prior to age ten, they are by now highly Americanized; (2)
many come from financially challenged families; (3) as children of
immigrants, the parents and children are highly motivated to achieve
success in this land of opportunity; and (4) why would our taxpayers
want to waste their investments already made on these children, who by
the way include "illegal" workers? In an increasingly competitive
world, Virginia and the nation can ill afford to lose some of the most
talented and motivated of our youngsters.
Apart from outright voting down Bill 14, in the spirit of reason and
justice, I call upon Delegate Peace and supporters of his bill to exempt
children of illegals who entered the country prior to age ten and can
demonstrate otherwise long-term residence in the state.
Satoshi Ito
221 Four Islands Trail
Lanexa, VA 23089
(804) 966-2646
itoathome@cox.net