More immigration in the news

The new edition of U.S. News and World Report (July 2) has a cutting quote from Joe Garcia. But Joe, should we really be telling the Republicans what they're doing wrong?

The succinct article is yet another indication of how Democrats need to hold that line on a rational immigration policy. Don't let yourself get sidetracked by otherwise good-hearted people who have been suckered by fear-mongering talking points.

• If they think immigrants reduce general wages and living standards, say it's not true.
• If they think immigrants are terrorists, say it's not true.
• If they think immigrants take work from "Americans," ask why the economy needs more immigrants to fill essential jobs, from farm fields to hospitals.
  
• No doubt that the border needs to be an orderly place, but walls are bad symbols and just displace the traffic to other areas.

Our Republican senator, Mel Martinez, is portrayed in the article as working hard on the immigration bill. He's also blitzing new citizens, as the featured speaker on July 4 at Disney, according to the Miami Herald. Check out that article, and, like me, you may wonder if Republicans have a lock on speaking/performing at naturalization ceremonies.