In response to Mr. Ecker's second-choice topic for Tuesday's My Opinion column: We would like to respond by saying yes, immigration is a sensitive topic, especially to those in America who are immigrants.

Mr. Ecker proposes that immigration is a leading concern in American society, and almost total elimination of immigration would solve many of the problems in America. He also feels all immigrants should be classified as "parasites" to the economy. Thank you, Mr. Ecker, but as immigrants, we do no appreciate this label.

If you are looking for parasites, consider those who profit from the labor of immigrants. Targeting immigrants as the cause of economic difficulties is simply a form of scapegoating such as was done in Nazi Germany when Hitler singled out the Jewish population for the problems Germany was experiencing. You claim that "it is a shame that not every immigrant and alien" (by the way, the term is resident alien) understands the value of hard work. What do you propose be done about them?

You also seem to imply in your column that the only people being added to the labor pool are immigrants. Are you forgetting American babies are being born every day who will become additions to the labor pool? Yes, America is a high-tech society, but does this mean that only people in technologically-related fields should be permitted to enter this country? Is there no room for others such as performers, artists or athletes? What about the Americans who do not fit into this mold? What do you propose we do with such people?

American culture is a "melting pot." Halting immigration won't change that fact. Simply because some peple choose to retain their own customs within the framework of American society does not mean they do not "blend" into this culture. Mr. Ecker brings out the fact that there is a limited amount of space within the U.S. borders. But he fails to recognize the fact that overpopulation is not unique to the United States but is a major concern worldwide.

Mr. Ecker is not even able to stick to the topic at hand -- immigration, but drifts into the subjects of welfare, claiming he does not want to pay for those who don't succeed. It is unclear as to whether he is referring to all of those who fail, or just the immigrants. If the latter, is true, then we would like to remind him that immigrants also pay taxes, and those taxes include welfare and social security.

Would he perhaps like to see a segregated system set up whereby only immigrants would be responsible for other immigrants? If so, at what point in time does one cease to be an immigrant and become an "American?" If such a system is set up, the assimilation of immigrants would become even more difficult than it already is.

This is not a matter of setting aside sentiments. Immigration reform on the scale which you propose, is a simple-minded solution to a complex series of problems within the society. Immigration laws, much more severe than the ones currently in effect, have been instituted at various times in America's past. These strict codes failed to successfully alleviate the problems they were supposed to be reducing. We are not merely "parasites" filling quotas; we are human beings who possess as much right to live in this country as you do.