Donald Trump’s immigration solution is unrealistic

To the editor:

Choosing our next presidential candidate is a long and arduous process, as it should be. We need time to examine each candidate's positions carefully. After eight years with President Barack Obama, it is crucial that Republicans choose a candidate who can win the general election to take back the White House.

After watching the constant barrage of news coverage on the election cycle, it makes me wonder if we can find a candidate with the courage to go beyond empty rhetoric to actually propose solutions to the major problems facing our country.

With over 11.5 million undocumented immigrants living in the shadows in the United States, our country desperately needs a leader who will propose common sense immigration reform that goes beyond securing the border. We need realistic solutions to dealing with the millions already living in the United States.

Donald Trump's solution of mass deportation not only goes against our country's heritage, but is completely unrealistic. America was built by immigrants coming from around the world to have the opportunity to succeed with hard work and dedication. Mass deportation would tear millions of families apart, cost hundreds of billions of dollars and shrink our economy by over a trillion dollars. We have a moral and economic imperative to fix our broken immigration system. I expect nothing less from our presidential candidates.

Jim Felker

Hiawatha