To the editor:

In his Dec. 4 letter, Mr. Skepnek argues that we need to be a sanctuary city because the laws force us into “uncomfortable inhumanity.”

Proponents of sanctuary cities appear to not want our immigration laws enforced and to consider opponents of sanctuary cities to be inhumane racists.

I do not know anyone who opposes legal immigration. Last year, according to U.S. immigration statistics, 756,000 people were naturalized, 7.2 million over the last decade. Over 90% came from non-European nations; in fact, the leading country of origin was Mexico. People who support enforcing our laws are not inhumane racists.

Proponents of sanctuary cities seem to see no distinction between legal and illegal immigration. On Nov. 12 then-Vice Mayor Jennifer Ananda said that other than Native Americans and slaves “we are all illegally here and have taken over land that was not given to us.” That is an insult to legal immigrants and their descendants.

Sanctuary cities are an official defiance of the law, encourage illegal immigration and attract illegal immigrants. Progressive commissioners raise taxes to support homeless people who have never lived here and want to defy the law for people who are here illegally. Where is their compassion for the working poor residents of Lawrence? Illegal immigrants compete with our working poor for jobs and drive down wages for those jobs. Progressive commissioners have increased the cost of food by raising the sales tax and are now considering taxing grocery bags. Is this how they show compassion for our working poor?

Ed White,

Lawrence