Chinese adoptees no threat to U.S.

I was taken aback by Caroline Helregel's May 4 letter. I am the proud mother of two daughters adopted from China, and it never occurred to me they would be viewed as a threat to domestic security and the American way of life. Given there have been only about 68,000 children adopted by American parents since the China program opened in 1992, it wouldn't exactly flood the country with Chinese if every single adoptee marries a Chinese spouse and returns to the U.S.

Furthermore, given the rich and varied contributions made by Chinese-Americans, we could look forward to an influx of energy and ideas from these new immigrants.

I have always viewed my girls as a bridge to deeper understanding and greater cooperation between the two countries. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that someone who recklessly throws around "we" and "they" views them as a problem to be feared.

And hello. Anyone who is worried about the degree of control China exerts over the U.S. should look beyond my daughters and consider the $500 billion in U.S. Treasury securities China holds as a result of our irresponsible deficit spending.

ELLEN LEYERLE

Urbana