Letter to the Editor, NYT (unpublished)

To the Editor:

There is an even more gaping hole in the immigration debate that both Democrats and Republicans have ignored ("One Argument, 12 Million Holes," editorial, Jan 18). Even if the U.S. could somehow seal off the southern border and deport every single illegal immigrant, economic malaise in Mexico and Central America would continue to push the poor and unemployed north. A truly comprehensive immigration policy must address U.S.'s role in exacerbating poverty in Latin America, through policies such as agricultural subsidies and NAFTA-style free trade deals.

Daniel Nemser