Immigration Reform

After 10-plus years of serious effort, immigration reform is a reality. It certainly is not a perfect bill, not from anyone’s perspective. It is, however, as close to perfection as legislation of this nature ever gets.

It has been one of the most controversial and emotional issues Congress has addressed in several years.

There has always been a portion of immigration reform that a congressman or senator could cite that justified voting against it. Meantime, our borders remain out of control and the number of crimes involving undocumented aliens continues to grow.

One does not have to spend a lot of time with this issue to understand that it had no chance of passing without employer sanctions, an amnesty provision, a farm worker provision and various other components that address major concerns from different members of the House and Senate. To hold out for the perfect bill was akin to burying your head in the sand.

We have two legislators from San Diego County who played a very important role in helping to move this legislation along to final passage. Sen. Pete Wilson and Rep. Ron Packard both deserve a word of thanks from all of us.

Without the effort of Wilson, we would not have seen a bill pass the Senate that California’s No. 1 industry, agriculture, could have lived with. His understanding of the issues and the respect that he has gained in Washington enabled him to convince his colleagues in the Senate that immigration reform must be enacted.

Packard worked behind the scenes to educate and encourage his colleagues in the House on the agricultural provisions. He never wavered from his dedication to do what was right for his district.

I only wish we could elect more like these two.

BOB L. VICE

Fallbrook