U.S. courts have a long-standing rule denying relief to individuals with “dirty hands” who seek the courts’ help. This applies to civil actions at all levels.

This rule should be consistently applied to all types of requests to the court, including asylum seekers requesting permission to enter the U.S. Individuals illegally entering the U.S. have broken our laws. They have “dirty hands” and should be denied the legal asylum they ask the court to provide.

There are existing legal procedures available to request entry into the U.S. before doing so. Generations of immigrants have abided by the legal method in effect at the time with excellent results. Non-compliers to those rules were turned away. That is the simple, immediate, and fair solution to the current immigration problem.

Unfortunately, we seem incapable of respecting our own laws. Instead of immediately turning around illegal immigrants and sending them back across the border, we bus them to cities, creating havoc for law-abiding citizens.

The reasons immigrants want to enter the U.S. have always been compelling. We should welcome them. That is the essence of this country, as is the respect and compliance with our laws. Our leaders need to honor their constitutional oath to uphold all the laws, not just the ones they agree with.

Paul Gallo

Barre