To: The United States Senate and the Congress of the United States

From :Thomas McLaughlin, an American Citizen of Jensen Beach, Florida

June 4, 2007

Honorable Senators and Congresspersons, I have been listening to the debates on Illegal Immigration for years and it seems that not one of you can come up with a decent plan. Ahh, to have the old revolutionary Patriots back in Washington just for one month. They would remind us all that America is a fair and just country. It is a country of Law and Order and freedom and protection for all Americans. A country where all stand up and take responsibility for themselves and their actions and yes their failures. For no country can be a free country if they allow other countries to dictate their future. Give me Liberty or Give me death.

For the last twenty or thirty years, we American have been discussing the problem of Illegal Immigration on our boarders. We have attempted to help the poor Mexicans by sending millions of dollars of aid to them, only to see it squandered by corrupt governments and bandits. In order for a Mexican man or women to make a living for their families in their bankrupt country, they have to turn to illegal crossing of our under-guarded boarder. We turned our back and gave a wink, and now look where we are! Twelve million and counting illegal Immigrants spread out all over our dear country. Some have even had the nerve to walk around our FREE country with our national ensign flying upside down and below the Mexican flag.

We are all Immigrants in this country. We all came from different continents to build a new life and a new country from sea to shining sea. And we did build that America the beautiful, with our sweat, tears and fortunes and we even sacrificed out men, women and children to make America what it is today...America the land of the Free and the Brave.

Now I hear our Secretary Chertoff, head of our Home Security say, "we can't go around and just kick in doors and pull people out of their homes and deport them. After all, most of them are just here to pick lettuce andtomatoes" (CNN 5/23/07). I would like to remind Mr. Chertoff, that many have been released criminals from Mexican prisons who have continued their criminal activities in this country. I said many not all. But I also want to remind him that it only took 19 illegal Terrorists to get into this country, get on board our planes and destroy our three thousand innocent people in one day.

This is not ten or twenty years ago when we all knew that Mexican laborers were entering our country to pick our fruits and vegetables for us and to make a living for their families. We are fair Americans and generous Americans and we turned our backs then for good reason...people, no matter who they are, must eat and live. There but for the grace of God, go we.

Secretary Chertoff, you are in your position to protect your American citizens. We want you to do your job and keep us safe as you have done in the last six years.

Okay, it's easy to criticize but if you do, as I have done, then I should have a solution. I'm just an old retired Subway Union man and a retired Senior Chief of the Coast Guard and a Former US Marine and an American who loves his country. So here goes,

First: Secure our boarders against all people who want to enter illegally.

Some need jobs but how can you tell which ones want to destroy our country? We can't afford to make the same mistakes again. (If it isn't already too late?) You, Mr. Secretary, nor anyone else can notread minds. I feel it was an insult to all Americans for you to say such a statement on CNN last night ( May 23,2007). "Some only come to work in the lettuce fields".

Second: how about America and Mexico joining forces to build the security walls where needed?

We are one of the best electronic surveillance countries in the world. Install electronic surveillance cameras with alarms and those small unmanned model aircraft we use in Iraq, to patrol the borders. It would be a lot cheaper than using thousands of American troops on the border. We can do it. Remember we put men on the moon!

Third: Have a joint effort of establishing and building large offices on the Mexican side of the boarder and also on our side of the boarder. These buildings will be manned with both American and Mexican Immigration officers. They will have all Mexicans who want to work in American, come to sign up and be checked and issued a photo ID with their fingerprint on it. A date they applied for the work and the date they must return to the American Immigration Boarder where they will be returned to Mexico. The American businessman will be responsible for transporting the workers back to the American check in point. (Looks like a good enterprizing young American could start a bus company and make a few dollars transporting the workers back and forth in an air conditioned Trailways type bus).

At the same time, there will be American businessmen in the same type of building on the American side and they will be filing papers as to how many workers they need and where they will be working and that the employer will insure that after their work is completed, he will make sure, under a penalty of law, that they are returned to the boarder for processing back to Mexico.

While they are employed by the American Merchant, the merchant will insure that the workers are covered by fair labor trade rules and regulations. Medical payments for any injuries will be paid by the employer while in his employ and all legal taxes will be deducted and sent to the government where appropriate.

Clean and healthy living quarters will also be provided (if farm work is involved). I realize that this may cost the employer additional monies but we are a fair country and we must treat all our workers with dignity and respect. The fair American free enterprize system will take care of the additional cost to the employer; he will adjust his prices of his product when it goes to market. Americans will pay a premium for the products with no hesitation when they see it is being charged for fair treatment to another human being. We are a Fair and Just People.

Now what would I call this system? Hummm, it reminds me of the days when I was a young man working on the waterfronts of New York. We, when unemployed, would go down to our Union hiring Hall and sign up for jobs on the Tug boats with the hiring clerk behind the cage. It was called "Shaping Up" for a job. Well now our Mexican brothers and sisters would be "shaping up" for their work in America LEGALLY.

Now the benefits of this type of program.

When applying for work at the Mexican Boarder, the worker would also apply for a citizenship application. He would fill it out and after working in America for so many years, without any criminal problems and being of sound mind and body; he/she could study for his/her American citizenship papers to become an American citizen. (When the illegal immigrants hear of this program, this may make them go back and sign up legally). Naturally, the quota system will be applied to Mexico as to all the other countries that have citizens filling to come into America. We can only accept so many from the worlds population.

During the workers years of employ in America, just as our Grand Parents did, there is no doubt that he/she would be bringing or sending many American dollars back to Mexico where he/she would be contributing to his/her family and the Mexican economy. This situation may assist Mexico in becoming a self sufficient country which would be able to progress and offer a better standard of living for all Mexicans, and they wouldn't't have to leave Mexico. I wouldn't be surprised to see many Mexicans become independent and frugal and build their own businesses and homes and a better life for their families IN THEIR OWN HOMELAND. For is it not true that, "There's No Place Like Home"?

This is Oneman's Opinion

Thomas McLaughlin

1600 N.E. Dixie Highway 14-208

Jensen Beach, FL 34957

772 225 8935