I believe every person must be treated with dignity and respect, whether their immigration status is legal or illegal (“Why I Care: Regardless of legal status, immigrants are survivors, community contributors,” June 21). I wholeheartedly agree that immigrants enhance our nation in many ways. But I also believe that immigration must be controlled — meaning it must be documented and legal. Is there any nation on Earth that does not control its immigration? I don’t understand how anyone could argue against that necessity. Our laws, including immigration laws, are passed by Congress. The mechanism for implementing a different immigration policy is to change them by electing representatives who will enact changes. I do believe in civil disobedience to resist unjust laws, but are immigration laws unjust? Are we to have no immigration policies or controls?

I also object to the article’s insinuation of universal white privilege. I oppose that term because it’s one of those pigeon-hole terms that offend me no matter which group is the target. People are too dynamic, too unique to apply one rule across an entire demographic. But I’m white so perhaps I’m blind to my privilege. I remember as a young boy in Michigan, raised with siblings by a single parent who worked long hours in a bar. School started one fall, but I had outgrown my shoes that summer. We were told I wouldn’t be permitted to start classes without shoes, yet money and time was short. Mother took me to Goodwill, but stocks were thin in that poor neighborhood and the only shoes that fit were bowling shoes, and about three sizes too large. I was teased mercilessly until those clown-like shoes were replaced. Do show me where my privilege was asserted, and I will gladly check it at the door provided others do likewise with their sweeping generalizations.

— Chuck Hirman