I have been following with great interest the plight of the British couple from Arundel. This couple opened a successful restaurant in Wells and were able to pay off the mortgage on the restaurant and a rental property from the profits they earned.

Now comes our government bureaucracy.

We must keep in mind that there are some 12 million illegal immigrants in this country, sucking the schools and hospitals and the welfare coffers of many cities and states dry. Yet government officials tell that hardworking couple that their E-2 visas have expired and they must leave the USA.

This is a couple who worked hard, paid their taxes, had zero government assistance and, government officials, in all their infinite wisdom, basically said too bad, you must leave now.

However, if that couple could somehow claim immigrant status, there are government agencies that would give them money for rent, food stamps, free medical care and schooling and access to the Social Security system. 

Am I the only one trying to figure this out?

Where are our elected officials? Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, Reps. Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree — come out, come out wherever you are.

What a shame that things such as this can happen in this country. How very sad.

Paul Parquette, Lewiston