Letter of the Day: Murders in Mexico show the need for immigration reform

The recent tragedy in Ciudad Juarez ("3 linked to U.S. killed in Mexico," March 15) underscores the urgent need for at least partial U.S. immigration reform. The U.S. consulate there processes the immigrant visa applications for all of Mexico. The typical client we send to apply is married to a U.S. citizen, has at least two U.S. citizen children and has no criminal record, but requires a special hardship waiver due to unlawful presence in the United States of more than one year. Applicants are desperate to legalize their status and join the ranks of taxpaying Americans. But they and their U.S. family members risk virtually everything by leaving our country to apply, as they are barred from the United States for 10 years if the waiver is not approved. Now they even risk their lives due to the high level of violence in Ciudad Juarez. Even those who are approved must travel there twice and remain apart from their families for two months. There must be a better way to protect the safety of American families who are caught in the political and physical crossfire. MICHAEL H. DAVIS, IMMIGRATION attorney, Minneapolis