RE: “3 dead, 2 wounded in shooting spree” by Matt Johnson (Whidbey News-Times, June 22).

In coverage of the dreadful murders committed by Hugh Douglas, the story failed to say he was an illegal alien. Why is this important? Illegal aliens do not receive thorough background checks as do legal immigrants.

Unfortunately, refugees and asylees receive only cursory checks. The Ukrainian Soltys who murdered five people last year in Sacramento was admitted as a refugee. He had a history of mental instability and spousal abuse.

In California, the media regularly detail illegal alien crimes from auto theft to homicide. The main suspect in the death of Chandra Levy is an illegal alien but virtually no newspaper in the U.S. included that detail.

Because of omissions such as these, Americans do not understand the danger. Also, our elected officials continue to pass illegal-alien amnesties with impunity.

In March, all of Washington’s nine members of Congress approved an extension of section 245(i). It allows illegal aliens to pay $1,000 and stay in the country without background checks. The INS currently has a backlog of 4 million such background investigations.

Holly Swartz and Margie Monnett are just as dead as the thousands murdered on September 11th. We must press our politicians to get serious about illegal immigration.

Linda H. Thom

Coupeville