Published: Sun, May. 04, 2008 12:30AM

Modified Sun, May. 04, 2008 02:25AM

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As all politicians, they are blowing smoke to get your vote and then they will do as they please once in office.

Donald Padgett

Apex

Look at trade policies

I agree with both Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama: We need to change the immigration law to both allow a pathway to citizenship as well as a legal way to enter the United States for work.

One issue that is never addressed in the immigration debate is the connection between trade policies and the increase in migration north from Latin America. Since the beginning of the passage of the free trade agreement, corn imports into Mexico have increased 6,000 percent. As Miguel Colunga of the Mexicans Farmers Union said, with NAFTA there are losers and winners: Those who benefit are large agribusinesses like Cargill, while the losers are the 2.5 million farmers who plant corn and beans. Corn farmers unable to compete with U.S. agribusiness cannot make a living on their farms and are forced to migrate in search of work to feed their families.

It is time for politicians, including U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, to stop targeting poor immigrants and focus instead on changing both the trade laws and the immigration law. We need a legal way for people to enter the United States to work. We need their work harvesting our food and working in poultry factories and other places. We must work for immigration reform as well as a change in the trade policies such as NAFTA and CAFTA, which are causing such desperation.

Gail S. Phares

Raleigh

Arrest, deport, fine

Illegal immigration is the top concern for me in the upcoming elections. I will support the candidates who vow to make it difficult for illegal immigrants to remain here. Since they are here illegally, they should not be allowed to rent or own homes, get driver's licenses, be hired for jobs, send their children to tax-supported schools, receive health-care benefits of any kind, open bank accounts, etc.

We are now rewarding them for being here illegally, but they should be arrested, deported and/or fined. They should return home and apply to come here legally. I can't even fish off my own dock without a license!

My husband and his family immigrated here legally in the '50s through Ellis Island, and a church sponsored his family. The U.S. taxpayers should not have to sponsor illegal immigrants. They are and will be a big drain on our economy.

Angela Kowalski

Newport

A vote of confidence

Letter writers John Gunderson ("A golden rule for taxes," April 27), and Bill Nye ("A vicious circle," April 27) would have my vote should they decide to pursue office in Washington. We need representatives who adhere to the principles of the U.S. Constitution. Electing those who are plied by the money of lobbyists or are followers of failed world "visionaries" such as Karl Marx has weakened these great United States of America. Our offices should not be up for sale.

Nancy Quinn

Durham

Politicians to blame

I do not think anybody begrudges Hispanics who have come to this country legally and become citizens. The problem comes from those who have entered illegally. It is of course compounded by politicians who see a new power base in granting amnesty to those who have broken our laws.

The answer is to enforce our current laws. Hold employers responsible for hiring illegal aliens. Give them a vehicle to verify Social Security numbers. If the jobs for illegal immigrants dry up, they will leave.

When the word gets out that illegal immigrants face an impossible battle, they will stop sneaking across the border. We may need to increase the number of green cards and make them a little easier to get. That would ease the problem with filling some of the low-level jobs they currently fill. This, of course, is wishful thinking, considering the politicians. Perhaps it is time to vote out the incumbents.

George Toth

Raleigh