Selective Immigration Outrage

Extremist, bigoted anti-immigration behavior is never acceptable. But "discussions" like this one by Ruben Navarette are, frankly, getting old.

It seems to me that Americans should be allowed to have strong opinions about the problems spawned by illegal immigration without being presumptively deemed racist or intolerant. And Navarette's argument -- that there would be no illegal immigration without employers to hire the illegal aliens -- is simply wrong.

Of course, many illegal immigrants come to this country seeking nothing more than a job; others, however, come looking for health benefits and other government subsidies. Given the hopelessness of their lot in some other countries, their desperation is understandable, but that doesn't make it any less burdensome (here is a piece I wrote on this topic and its political ramifications).

Nor is Latino/Hispanic opinion monolithic.

At any rate, Navarette's outrage is a bit selective. Where is his indignation about this travesty? As long as injustice like this is perpetuated, people will be angry . . . and -- at least about a brave Texan Marine who served overseas being denied "in state tuition" offered to illegal immigrants -- rightly so.