No, we certainly are not all immigrants

Many folks who submit community letters decrying our nation's existing immigration laws, system and policies (and more recently those who express horror regarding the thousands of children who have been separated from their parents who crossed our borders illegally) use the phrase 'we are all immigrants” in support of their argument.

However stylish the use of this phrase may appear in print, it is grossly inaccurate.

Hundreds of millions of U.S. citizens may be descendants of immigrants, but we certainly are not all immigrants.

Many nations have immigration laws that are strictly enforced and just because the United States is a nation of immigrant descendants; our country should not be ostracized for trying to enforce its laws.

We welcome future citizens who legally enter our country and prove their desire to embrace our laws by so doing.

Dann Myers

Waterloo