July 06, 2009 02:04 am To the editor: I was appalled when I read the letter to the editor by Annette Cameron (June 26). I find it unbelievable that our elected officials would even consider passing the DREAM Act (S.729 and H.R. 1751). This means that illegal immigrants would have preference and put lower-income citizens at risk of losing a better education and at the same time would put college out of reach for many middle-class citizens. What is wrong with this program? Illegal means illegal. A law was broken and we are compensating these illegal immigrants with free housing, medical insurance and tuition. This is asinine. Our elected officials have college degrees, some with master's degrees; some are lawyers and I find it embarrassing that they do not know the meaning of "illegal." My grandson is graduating with high honors, was an A-plus student, received many accolades from his teachers, and his parents surely thought he would receive some type of scholarship for college, but all the scholarships went to minorities. His parents remortgaged their home to send him to college. He graduated cum laude because of his parents, both parents working so that they could provide a college degree for their sons. We are all in a financial crisis — many cities have to lay off teachers, policemen, firemen and other personnel to balance their budgets. There is no money around. The burden is passed on to the consumers, with higher taxes and putting a tax on everything that they could think of. Families are just making it and there is no money left over for additional taxes. We could save millions of dollars with the money they are considering for helping illegal immigrants. Cities and towns would not have to lay off teachers, policemen and firemen. Some of the money could help these students with their college degrees. Some families are homeless because husbands and wives have both been without jobs. Companies are all downsizing. In their wildest dreams these families never thought that they would be in this unbelievable situation. They have lost their homes and are having a difficult time finding work. And we're helping illegal immigrants that have not put any money into the system and not helping our own. These families have lost everything. We have tent cities all over, especially in parts of Florida and California. We should all do something or we are all going to be second-class citizens. Adeline Gallant Windham, N.H.
—
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.