Editor,

As I was reading the many articles in the July 18 edition of the Whidbey News-Times, the section of letters to the editor got my attention.

David Coleman’s letter on immigrants did contain some truth, but he did not note that we have two classes of immigrants — legal and illegal.

In recent letters to the editor, I pointed out that in my working years I had co-workers, or their spouses, who were immigrants from most areas of the world except South America. They followed the rules of entry into the United States. They worked, paid taxes, and in time most applied for citizenship. My wife included.

On two occasions both co-worker and spouse were immigrants, from Jamaica and Nigeria. I knew others that would not be classed as a co-worker.

Those are the plus sides of the immigration system.

Those are the immigrants that are not hurting America.

On the negative side are those who feel laws do not apply to them, so they don’t apply for legal entry but demand all the rights of the legal immigrants.

They collect from the social programs that they do not contribute to. When they get a job their workmanship is not always up to the standards of the legal work force.

This I observed during the four years I lived in New Mexico, where houses built by illegal immigrants did not meet the standards of those built by legal residents.

These immigrants hurt America by taking jobs and turning out sub-standard products.

With elections coming up I was surprised I did not see Mr. Coleman running for some office where he could help, as he stated, “get our priorities straight,” or provide recommendations on what is needed.

Our elected officials do not know everything, but they think they do.

Robert Brown

Oak Harbor