To the editor:

Sunday’s story “Legislature will have plate full of meaty issues” featured Secretary of State Kris Kobach arguing in favor of passing harsh Alabama-style “show me your papers” anti-immigrant legislation in the next session of the Kansas Legislature. We’re all frustrated with our broken immigration system, but disregarding our nation’s cherished values of justice and equality is unacceptable.

The Kansas Legislature listened to business leaders, local governments, social service providers, religious institutions and community groups in rejecting a similar proposal in 2011. Since then, the evidence that this is a very costly move has only grown with each state that has pursued this policy. In 2012, having learned from those who have gone before, Kansas should again put good policy-making above divisive politics. Let’s leave immigrants alone and focus on the other pressing issues before us.