Immigrants come to try and better their lives

As far as I am concerned, Holly Weiss ("Disagreement Is Not Over Immigrants Who Came Legally," Letters to the Editor, News Transcript, June 10, 2009) does not get or understand what I am saying about the whole immigration situation.

True, there are a lot of people that have come here with out the proper documentation. Yes, they came here "illegally." My whole argument is that when people face a situation where they feel they can better themselves, they will take that opportunity and move to an area where they can have employment, have better housing and in general make a better life for themselves and their family.

Most of the "illegals" face desperate situations in their home countries and cannot wait years to come here legally. I am not saying what they did is right in the eyes of the law. It isn't. I am saying that what they did takes a lot of courage to come to a country where they are mistreated, taken advantage of and looked down on because they are poor and different.

The law, in a lot of cases, is wrong. Segregation was the law, so was slavery. Did I break the law by protesting against segregation, by sitting at a lunch counter in South Carolina and having hot coffee poured on my head, spat on and called every name in the book? Did I break the law? Yes, I did, and I would gladly do it again.

Did your descendants come here legally? They probably did as you state, but what would they have done if they were denied legal entry and they had the opportunity to come here without papers? Ask yourself that question.

Remember, it is normal for people to move from place to place in order to better themselves. This has been going on from the beginning of history.
Thomas Baldwin
Freehold Borough