Your editorial "A flawed compromise" (March 8) argued that children of illegal immigrants should be allowed to pay the reduced in-state tuition at Maryland public colleges and universities. However, since these people should be deported to their native countries, why should the citizens of Maryland subsidize their educations?

Do we wish to spend our money to enhance the value of people that we should be deporting, so that they can do better when they return to their native countries?

Your argument assumes that they will be staying in Maryland and contributing to the state's economy, but what is the factual basis for that argument?

Donald J. Lacey