We are a country of immigrants, Native Americans excepted. We, or our ancestors, immigrated here. The draw is the same -- work a chance to advance, a chance to raise a family in a relatively safe environment.

Former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party paint immigration as a threat to the American way of life and our security. They worked to defeat the most-comprehensive bipartisan legislation in decades to deal with the issue. That bill would have secured the border better than any wall. It provided for more technology, more administrative personnel, more judges and more facilities.

Trump saw it as taking away his issue. He wants to “close the border” rather than control the border. He wants to deport 20 million “illegals” and Dreamers. He’s wrong. We have a labor shortage and a negative population growth; immigrants do many jobs citizens won’t. Illegal immigrants don’t get any government services; they pay taxes and Social Security. They commit fewer crimes than citizens.

Closing the border would stifle $800 billion in trade. Do you like fresh vegetables in the winter? Gone. Do you like avocados, double the price? Think it would stop drugs? Wrong, the demand is here so the suppliers will find a way.

Vice President Kamala Harris has said, if elected, she would sign the same immigration bill that Trump’s cronies killed. That’s common sense, not a self-serving attempt to create fear for votes.

Don Rankin

Wilton