I came here legally, why can’t others?

I would like to respond to the gentleman who wrote the letter about enforcement of immigration laws (“Sounding off,” Feb. 16). I agree fully.

First off, I am a native of Mexico. Forty years ago we moved here.

My family all came here for the reason many do ? to build a better life, and we did.

But, we did it within the laws. Yes, we first all learned to speak the English language before we came across the border, and we taught our kids that same thing. I feel anyone coming from a foreign country, if it be Japan/Brazil, anywhere, they should have the respect to talk the language of that country.

So as for us, we got green cards to start working, and from there, it took many years, but we did all the country asked of us, and I feel we did just what this fine country wanted and needs the people coming into this country to do.

I am right there, with everything this man is saying, we need to remember the meaning of the word “illegal.”

For these people to be able to come here without doing the right thing, is “illegal,” and every effort should be taken to see that this stops. I pay taxes as do all good Americans, and I am a Mexican/American, but I don’t like seeing my tax money going to all the free healthcare, and schooling.

There are so many cutbacks in these areas, and I feel it’s because of “illegal” persons coming here, and using this kind of handouts without the government doing anything about it is wrong!

The city of Huntington Beach needs to take the illegal immigration problem seriously. Just as if a person steals from a store, or someone’s home, the police take care of that because it is illegal, so we should start enforcing the country’s immigration laws.

JOSE MENDEZ

Huntington Beach