
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 1, 1993                   TAG: 9307010603
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A14   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

IMMIGRATION POLICY IS TOPSY-TURVY

THE DECISION to allow AlDS-infected Haitians to immigrate to our country under the guise of political asylum is but one more example of our topsy-turvy immigration policy that screens out the good and lets in the bad. As if we don't have enough problems with soaring costs of medical services, we have brought in a group guaranteed to be a massive financial drain on the taxpaying community for the rest of their lives. Moreover, they are uneducated and unskilled, promising to balloon our already burgeoning welfare roles.

I propose to revive an ancient concept that lies sleeping in the time-shrouded past of this country, that is, to judge all American policy by a single standard: Is it in the best interest of the United States to do something? This standard should be applied to all our decision-making, not just immigration.

While we are rolling out the red carpet for the Haitians at taxpayer expense, many highly educated and skilled international scientists and engineers in this country can't so much as obtain a green card, much less be granted "asylum." The U.S. needs many contributions that new educated and skilled employees would bring to our Japan-lagging economy, and should admit them preferentially.

If we eventually, out of the goodness of the taxpayers' hearts, choose to admit any of those who can only take and not give, then we will at least have enough additional taxpayers to make up for the added dead weight.

BOB BAIRD GLEN ALLEN

by CNB