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This letter is in response to an op-ed by Karyn Pomerantz ("Racial division won't help improve county," Letters to the Editor, Oct. 22). Pomerantz simply defines "racism" as the only reason for opposition to illegal immigration and their use of taxpayer-funded benefits. Charging racism against those with whom you disagree is getting old and outdated. More often than not it means you are on the losing end of an argument if that's the only thing you can think of.

Pomerantz claims that opponents to illegal immigration don't want "non-citizens" to use taxpayer-funded benefits. We have no problem with non-citizens as long as they are here legally and paying taxes. "Legally" is the key word. If someone is not here legally, that means they violated our laws and should not receive any public benefits, including K-12 public education. These benefits keep the illegal [immigrants] coming.

Despite claims to the contrary, illegal [immigrants] are not paying federal and state income taxes. If they are, it means they used a stolen Social Security number, which is another crime. Illegal [immigrants] cost law-abiding citizens much more than they supposedly contribute according to their enablers. When our own elected officials such as Del. Victor Ramirez support driver's licenses and in-state tuition for illegal aliens and disabling law enforcement from reporting illegal aliens who commit additional crimes, they are simply defying our Constitution that they are sworn to uphold. What's next: allowing illegal [immigrants] to vote in our elections?

When groups like Casa of Maryland and La Raza openly support criminal activity like the violation of our borders and illegal presence in our country, it is tantamount to sedition. These organizations have no business operating in our country and need to be shut down and investigated immediately. We have enough people and issues in Prince George's County as it is. We don't need to add to the mix with more here illegally.

In the United States, we have a Constitution, and our leaders are sworn to uphold it. That includes protecting our borders. As American citizens, we have the right to determine our own destiny and choose if and when people may immigrate to our nation. People are beginning to wake up, and the citizens are finally fighting back.

Tommy Priestley, Mount Rainier