Caring first for our citizens

I'm writing about the editorial ``Punishing Immigrants,'' Nov. 3.

According to Webster's Collegiate Dictionary definition, to ``immigrate'' is ``To come into a country of which one is not a native, for permanent residence.''

We have a great number of people here that fall under that category: Cubans, Haitians, Cambodians, and so on.

Since Mexico and Canada are our closest neighbors I feel that we should take care of them first after we take care of our own citizens that are homeless, hungry, and need health care.

The United States cannot take care of the entire world and indeed we should not feel that this is our responsibility.

I grew up near the Mexican border, and I feel compassion for the ``illegal aliens.'' Jo Anne Jacobs, Tucson, Ariz.

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