I am Christian, Conservative, and Republican. Having said that, let me say that we are committing a great injustice in how we are dealing with Mexican immigration and the status of illegal Mexican workers in the United States.

Congress ought to support President Bushs guest-worker program for illegal Mexican workers in the United States and even a path for amnesty and citizenship. We do owe something to Mexico and its people.

In the 19th century our nation, which was experiencing great industrial, technological and economic growth, sought to expand to the Pacific Ocean. But, there was one big problem. Mexico was in the way. Western land belonged to Mexico.

So, we invented a doctrine called manifest destiny that said the nation that could better use the land had the right to it. We forcibly took what is now California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas from Mexico. This was raw aggression and it was morally wrong.

When we seized these lands from Mexico they first became U.S. territories ruled directly by the federal government. Afterwards, when enough Americans from other parts of the country settled into these territories, the federal government in Washington allowed the people in the territories to vote on statehood and to have their own individual state governments.

We can partly correct the great injustice and wrong which we committed against Mexico by giving legal status to Mexican workers, many of whom are doing jobs Americans will not do. Most of the illegal Mexican workers are hard working and are already paying taxes from money withdrawn from their paychecks. They have already contributed billions to the U.S. economy and into social security. Only a small percentage of the total illegals are in jail or on welfare.

Yes, we should protect our borders from illegal entry, but let us also lower the legal hurdles so that more immigrants can enetr legally. We are not an over-crowded nation by any means. It is only in the spirit of the founding of our country that we do this.

We should not fear if immigrants don't immediately assimilate and pick-up our language. The first Italian and Irish immigrants didn't assimilate right away either. It took at least two or three generations. We must give the benefit of the doubt to other immigrants as well.

Trust me. We will not implode as a nation. Much of our nation's progress and strength has been an outcome of the unique diversity of our people. By God's grace we have made it thus far, and by God's grace we will continue to be strong, even stronger than ever.

Let's do what's right and help these people become legal.

Sincerely,