I’m against S.744 (Gang of 8 Immigration Bill). It does nothing more than we did in 1986. Washington let us down then by not doing what Congress agreed to in principle – secure the border. I shouldn’t be surprised, after 73 years here, one must be resolved to the fact that common sense died with the NEW DEAL and respect for, and the value of, the US dollar went down the drain slowly but surely. For the last 70 years the government has encouraged a steady inflation rate of at least 2 to 3% and the only benefactor is the US government because the government gets to print it and spend it before the general public knows it is worth less.

Getting back to illegal immigration, I have read and been informed several time that 40% of the illegals here have over stayed their visas. We know where they came from and where they landed so let’s track them down, as time permits, thank them for visiting and send them home. I don’t care what ties they have. Inform them if they want back in they have to go way back to the end of the line and they better have something to offer this country on the way back. I do not agree to a flood of green cards just because some vegetable farmer or slaughterhouse needs cheap labor. I’ll pay the price or do without. Next, Congress should pass a law with TEETH (the kind that draw blood) that says that the owner of any business or the top 3 executives of any corporation who hire any illegal immigrates will be fined $20,000 per illegal on the first incident and $50,000 per illegal and 5 years in prison hard time (no white collar punishment) the second time. Congress should pass a measure with the tools needed to verify everyone’s status that is looking for employment. Let’s get this situation corrected before it ruins the country.

I speak with confidence because all my family history indicates that my ancestors came through Ellis Island. My grandmother on my mother’s side and her brother came together from Norway. They went through all the tests and examinations but the brother was sent back to Norway because he reacted to a TB test. A year later he came back and passed all the tests. My question is, “What’s wrong with LEGAL immigration?’

Leon L Mallberg

Dickinson, N.D.

My name is Ann-Marie Richard. Twelve years ago I moved to Rugby from Princeton, Mass., and Rugby seemed to be an ideal place to spend the rest of my life.

Since 60 years of age, I would ride my bicycle the mileage of my age.

On June 8th I turned 82 years old. And not knowing if I could do 82 miles on my bicycle, it was worth trying. On June 8th I did ride 25 miles, and on the 9th another 25 miles. 50 miles. I thought I had reached my limit. After a day of rest, I decided to try for more miles to reach my goal.

Less than 1/2 a mile from my home, and the last mile to reach my goal of 82 miles, while on the access road that crosses Route 3 to the access road on Route 2, a white pickup truck and a big, black pickup truck with a man on a cell phone while driving were moving onto Rte. 3. Both trucks were moving and I was to follow them. The big black truck stopped, so I had to turn left to stop and turn away from the truck and to stay off of Rte. 3.

This caused me to fall onto Rte. 3. While on the ground and tangled in my bike, the man (still on his phone) asked, “Are you all right?” I said “No”. And while still on the ground trying to get up, the man in the black truck turned right onto Rte. 3 before I could get up.

I want him to know that he left an 82-year old woman on the ground and drove away!

Ann-Marie Richard