The Nation - News from Feb. 17, 1989

More than 100 American leaders delivered an open letter to Congress urging lawmakers to “humanely prevent illegal entry at the border.” The letter, signed by civil rights activists, law enforcement officials, mayors and governors, says that “at a time when millions of Americans are in poverty and drug use has reached epidemic levels, we cannot continue to wink at wholesale violation of U.S. sovereignty.” The Coalition for Border Security, the letter’s sponsor, wants to “get a broad range of people to sign on and to get Congress to think about the issue,” spokesman Mark Krikorian said. The letter calls also for full funding of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the repair, replacement and extension of fencing along the border.