Mr. Ted Hinnenkamp, in his July 8 letter to the editor, mischaracterizes the message on the Minnesota Coalition for Immigration Reduction’s sign in the July 3 parade. The sign in question stated that illegal immigration costs jobs, schools, hospitals and courts. Mr. Hinnenkamp calls this a “hate message,” calls the messengers “nativist,” and feels it is “like baring (sic) false witness against our neighbors — that is, the Mexican people.” However the sign makes simple statements of fact: Illegal immigration certainly does burden schools,, which provide services to children of illegal immigrants. Illegal immigration certainly does burden hospitals, which provide emergency medical services to people who cannot pay hospital bills and should not be in the U.S. in the first place. Illegal immigration certainly does burden courts with cases that wouldn’t even exist if people hadn’t entered the U.S. illegally.

Comparing the MCIR to Father Charles Coughlin, as Mr. Hinnenkamp does, is itself bearing false witness against one’s neighbor. If Mr. Hinnenkamp disagrees with the sign’s message, he should either refute the message, or explain why it is not a serious problem for jobs, schools, hospitals and courts to be adversely impacted by illegal immigration. He should not simply smear it as a “hate message” on par with the hateful Father Coughlin.

Moreover, the sign mentioned illegal immigrants — period. It did not mention the Mexican people. Illegal immigrants in the U.S. come from many countries and all are having a negative impact on jobs, schools, hospitals and courts. It is interesting that Mr. Hinnenkamp mentions the Mexican people, as Mexico is a country that routinely arrests immigrants who cross its southern border illegally.

Finally, it is important to note that many illegal immigrants — from Mexico and elsewhere — agree with the sign’s message. Such people are clearly not “nativist.” Indeed, there are means to enter the U.S. legally, and turning a blind eye to illegal immigration is a slap in the face to immigrants who obey U.S. immigration laws.

Paul J. Arquette

Arlington, Va