Illegal Immigrants Shown No Compassion

Dear Editor,
   I just read Lee Nichols' article regarding the recent U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce convention held here in Austin last weekend ["¿Adelante Con Bush o Kerry?," News, Sept. 24]. I had to write after reading Hector Barreto's remarks that the Bush administration deals with illegal immigrants compassionately. Obviously Mr. Barreto does not see Univision or Telemundo, because if he did he would have seen the number of cases where illegal immigrants have joined our military, served in Iraq, and returned stateside to be held in detention centers to be deported or had already been deported. Moreover, he would also have seen where illegal immigrants who've lived here for years and have children who are American citizens are deported, leaving their children here to fend for themselves. Oftentimes, these American children, who do not speak their parents' language and/or have never set foot in their parents' native countries, are deported along with their parents.
   It's an outrage in both instances and a disgrace. So much for family values. Barreto needs to get a clue and see the reality for what it is. When it comes to illegal immigrants and either their service in Iraq or their American-born children, Bush and his administration have no compassion.