Thank you for the May 13 editorial "Border bargains" on the need for immigration reform. It is high time that Congress voted for a comprehensive immigration reform, which would include a legalization program that is workable and that includes family unity and a realistic and achievable path to citizenship.

This bill should create a new worker program with protections and living wage levels. Any immigration reform bill must preserve family reunification by reducing family backlogs and maintaining all family preference categories.

Immigrants have had a positive impact on the U.S. economy. During the l990s, half of all new workers were foreign-born, filling gaps left by native-born workers in both the high- and low-skill ends of the spectrum.

As Alan Greenspan pointed out, 70 percent of immigrants arrive in prime working age. That means the U.S. has not spent a penny on their educations, yet they are transplanted into our work force and will contribute $500 billion toward our Social Security system over the next 20 years, as reported by the Center for Labor Market Studies, Northeastern University, Boston.

Gail S. Phares

Director, Carolina Interfaith Task Force on Central America

Raleigh

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