Perhaps my piece on soon-to-be-deported Krisztina Gal came off a bit harsh. Wade (not his real name), a friend of mine who lives in Budapest, took umbrage: "I have to say that your support of Ms Gal's deportation is a bit chilling for a guy like me. I was an illegal immigrant for three years in the country she's being deported to, see, and having been very nearly deported myself, I can honestly say it's a very unpleasant experience."

None of that changes my opinion — namely, that there's no logical reason to consider this situation unjust — but I didn't mean to sound quite so enthusiastic about getting Krisztina and her boyfriend on the next flight out. I certainly have empathy for their situation. It sucks. But this happens all the time, to all sorts of pleasant, productive people who've done nothing to deserve it… nothing except violating our immigration laws, that is.

The flood of letters I predicted turned out to be a flood of one, incidentally, but it said exactly what I thought it would. At the risk of drawing the Post's ire, I will reprint Heinz Klatt's letter in its gloriously nonsensical entirety.

Immigration Minister Judy Sgro found reason to fast-track the immigration of someone who helped her in her election campaign and to make exceptions for women who were willing to undress and wiggle in front of lascivious eyes, because supposedly we do not have enough Canadian women to do so.

In light of such practices, it is easy to justify an exception for a courageous woman such as Krisztina Gal, who keeps her clothes on. She has shown exemplary integrity and the right principles by giving priority to catching a sex offender over protecting her own skin. She is the type of person we need in this country.

Ms. Sgro, admit Ms. Gal to Canada. We welcome her. Good behaviour should never be punished.

First: Ms Gal's good behaviour (turning in the (alleged, surely!) sex offender) is not being punished. Her bad behaviour (being in Canada illegally) is. The former has nothing to do with the latter. Also, good behaviour is punished all the time — notably every April 30^th.

Second: Ms Gal is not Romanian and she is not a stripper. Thus, her case has nothing to do with Romanian strippers. 

Third: Ms Gal may indeed be "the type of person we need in this country," but we already have millions of that type of person, both native born and otherwise. Implicit in this whole affair is the borderline-racist (certainly cynical) idea that most illegals are selfish, immoral pricks who would step over a dying baby to avoid deportation. I just don't think that's the case.

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