Jaime Contreras' response to the Baltimore County Council's recent vote that deals with the hiring of illegal workers by those who do business with the county seems to be all wet ("County Council's wrong on immigrant worker verification," Readers respond, Feb. 3).

You can't fit a gallon of water into a shot glass, and that is what this county and country are rapidly facing in dealing with booth legal and illegal immigration.

The current recession, one of the worst in our history, with it's 10 percent unemployment rate and $1.6 trillion deficit, should send a message that this nation does not have the recourses to accommodate all of those who wish to come here.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently reported that his state is spending $10 billion annually on the issue of illegal immigration, adding that the federal government is to blame for much of his budget woes because it has failed to deal with this issue.

According a recently released report by the Federation for American Immigration Reform, the cost to the taxpayers of this state of educating illegal immigrants is $1.4 billion.

I testified before the County Council that its non-binding resolution does not go far enough in addressing this issue. I felt the real answer could be better served by legislation with penalties for those who violate the law.

Buzz Beeler, Dundalk

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