Secure borders would deter spread of diseases

Before 1924, every legal immigrant was checked and prevented from U.S. entry with any infectious diseases such as tuberculosis.

Today, before a green card can be issues, legals must be free of communicable diseases.

The American Physicians and Surgeons Journal in 2005 and other health care organizations report that many illegal immigrants carry diseases which overtax the American medical system. New diseases as well as old ones that were almost gone are emerging.

Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis has arrived in America via Mexico and other third world countries. Most tuberculosis has been eradicated in the U.S., but each illegal with MDR-TB can cough and infect up to 30 other people even though symptoms may not show up immediately.

Chagis disease was unknown in America, but is common in Latin America, where the reduviid bug thrives, and effects 18 million, causing 50 million deaths. It can only be transmitted through the blood supply and is incurable.

There have only been 40 cases in the last 40 years in America of Hansen's disease, better known as leprosy. America has over 700 cases now. The Columbia News Service reports 120 new cases in America in 2005.

The solution in these health care problems is to secure our borders, thereby protecting us from illegal immigrants. This is the responsibility of the federal government as stated in the U.S. Constitution, Article IV, Section 4. So far the U.S. government has given us a pitiful performance in protecting our borders.

Aileen Boyce
Lodi