Lexington County, SC — I write not in anger but in disbelief that hundreds of Americans have supported Taco Cid’s “How to catch an illegal immigrant” shirts (“ ‘Rude, racist’ T-shirt sales soaring as debate grows hotter,” Jan. 16).

According to the Taco Cid owner, the shirt uses humor express her views on illegal immigration. However, the shirts also have offended thousands of individuals of Mexican descent — individuals who pay taxes, individuals who were born and raised in the United States, individuals who cherish their culture and background just as much as any other American.

And the humor is only amusing to those who are not affected by the real issue behind the shirt: not illegal immigration, but racism. Although Taco Cid’s owner’s intent was not to insult anyone, the shirts are slanderous to thousands of people, not only undocumented immigrants but American citizens as well.

People should reconsider their support for Taco Cid. Illegal immigration is not a matter of race; it’s a matter of politics. If your ultimate goal is to make the United States a better place, then I would suggest you start by encouraging politicians to find an appropriate solution for illegal immigration. Supporting radical views such as Taco Cid’s will only create racial tension.

Eric Reyes

Aiken