Building the case in favor of opening U.S. borders, Philippe Legrain argues that illegal immigrants do low-skilled and low-paid jobs because they are less educated and thus will never displace the American labor force ("Let Them In," June 28, p. 22). However, ifrnAmerica legalizes the illegal immigrants, they will not be low paid anymore, demanding the same minimum wages as other citizens. Furthermore, since they are undocumented residents in America, they mostly take wages in cash and add to the black-money market. It is very easy for them to evade taxes while continuing to live in the country and off its resources. A law-abiding and taxpaying immigrant myself, I strongly feel that if someone wants to live and work in America, he or she should enter through the legal channels and then get in line for a green card with the other legal immigrants who are patiently waiting.
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