Paul Strickland's commentary ("1,000 pound gorilla is immigration," April 11, 2008) is dead-on correct.
As the Bush administration drags its feet in building the congressionally approved border fence, the torrent of illegals invading the United States flows like an uncontrolled high jet water hose, and the 1,000-pound gorilla pushes tax-paying citizens to the Earth like the gravity of Jupiter.

Paul Strickland is right. Illegal immigration is the No. 1 issue on Americans' minds for the 2008 election.
It trumps everything because illegal immigration affects everyone of us. Los Angeles County spends $1 billion per year on illegals through welfare, health care and food stamps. And that does not include public education, which is near disaster condition.

If the illegals went home, a major step toward balancing California's huge deficit would be fixed - immediately.

If illegals went home or were deported, Jamiel Shaw Jr. would be alive today preparing for his bright future.
More than 22,000 Americans would not have been murdered or run down by drunken driver illegal aliens since Sept. 11, 2001.

Regrettably, this unholy alliance continues between pandering Democrats such as Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who embraces illegals through law-breaking tactics like sanctuary city umbrellas, to greedy Republicans and businesses who develop their business plans incorporating a "slave" factor and by depressing American wages. The middle class pays, and pays big.

Congratulations, state of Arizona and Maricopa Country Sheriff Joe Arpaio for doing your job and enforcing the law.

I think John McCain will come around. He is listening to American citizens and will secure our border. All we have to do is elect him.

The alternative is the continued invasion of the Third World that will blur this country into non-existence.