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Bordering on injustice

Let me get this straight: An American citizen hiking the Pacific Crest Trail is subject to arrest, fines and jail time for merely crossing the Canadian border – that is, re-entering the U.S. – “improperly” (“Feds warn Pacific Crest Trail hikers about crossing border,” July 11). That seems like a disproportionately heavy penalty for an honest mistake, doesn’t it?

Meanwhile, along the Mexican border, foreign nationals by the thousands engaged in drug smuggling, human trafficking, potential terrorism or other criminal activities are penetrating that border with impunity. The federal government has consistently failed to secure the border.

And now I’m being labeled a racist because I support law enforcement’s need to ascertain if these people even have the right to be present in this country, in order to protect the citizens that do?

Sens. Murray and Cantwell, can you correct this injustice? Can’t the Border Patrol just treat PCT adventurers as “undocumented hikers?” What if they say they’re sorry, promise to pay taxes, learn English and vote Democrat?

One group of border-crossers harbors no ill intent, while the other threatens our security and safety. Why the difference in immigration law enforcement? What’s wrong with this picture, America?

J.M. Lyons

Spokane



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