Letter: Step by step

Editor, Daily News:

In order to solve the problem of illegal immigration from Mexico, it is first necessary to state the problem clearly, then try to determine the cause.

I would state the problem as "Many Americans believe that an excessively large number of people from Mexico, a country of a different culture and language, will overwhelm our social and economic life if we allow uncontrolled entrance, and that America as we know it will cease to exist."

This particular definition of the Problem is enhanced when evidence shows these immigrants maintain their own language and customs after they arrive.

In my opinion, the cause of the problem is that the population of Mexico has increased beyond that country's ability to feed and clothe them. The official count of population of Mexico was 50 million in 1970. In 2006 the official count was 107 million, and assuming that an additional 10 million would be added to the official count if they did not migrate to the U. S. during that 36 years, total count is 117 million.

What can a poor country like Mexico do with an additional 67 million persons in that span of time?

A logical solution to the problem would be for the U.S. to spend its money to provide incentives to the people and government of Mexico to practice family planning and reduce the population pressure.

Spending millions for a six-foot high fence against a Category 5 population surge is not a likely solution, especially when there is a corrupt pool of employment on our side of the fence.

Stan Breen , Naples