In response to Jesse Jose’s letter (“Proud to be a legal immigrant”, Auburn Reporter, April 14):

I agree that we all have to follow the law, in general, and that means that you will be respected when you choose to live in this country only if you do it legally.

If you do not think this is the same as cheating on a test or driving without a license, having insurance or any other “laws” that have been created for all of us to live by, then you do not respect our country and don’t deserve all of the rights that citizens who chose to do the hard work to become one of us has.

It amazes me that people actually believe that you can “pick and choose” which laws you want to follow. It is morally reckless to allow this kind of behavior, which reflects on the impressionable minds of young people being taught that you need to go to school every day, on time, to graduate and to be successful in life. But breaking the law to be in this country and to reap all the benefits with no consequences, is OK.

This attitude of rejecting law has set a ridiculous precedent, and what’s even more shocking is seeing politicians and school administrators romanticize the idea of being undocumented.

My question is this: since when did becoming a legal citizen and following proper channels become an unreasonable and offensive request?

– Shellie Hall