The news Web site WorldNetDaily reported that more United States citizens were killed every day by illegal immigrants than U.S. soldiers killed in the War on Terror. Data collected from prisons, news reports and independent research has led a number of groups and researchers to this conclusion, including Rep. Steve King (R-IA) who released numbers determining that 4,380 U.S. citizens are murdered annually by illegal immigrants.

As of this writing, the total number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq is reported at 2,941 since the beginning of the war, and the total number from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan over the past five years combined comes to 289. Compare this to the estimated 21,900 citizens murdered by illegal immigrants since Sept. 11, 2001.

When we hear the story of an impoverished family racing across the border, dodging minutemen and the INS in order to obtain better lives for themselves, our hearts go out to them. Who wouldn't do the same, if placed in their circumstances? It is from this compassion that we are naturally inclined to a viewpoint that leaves our borders wide open — after all, this nation is a nation founded by immigrants, and shouldn't we let anyone in who wants to be here?

In the end, the answer is no, we should not. This is not because we are cruel, evil or otherwise malicious, but because the safety of our own citizens takes the highest priority. Many immigrants who are here illegally contribute to the country and mean no harm. Nevertheless, there are plenty of reasons why our immigration laws, which have existed for decades, should be enforced, but the one that has the most immediate effect on our everyday lives is how greatly our physical wellbeing is compromised with an open border policy.

In addition to the 4,380 whoare murdered by illegal immigrants every year, 4,754 Americans are killed by drunk illegal immigrant drivers, as reported by WorldNetDaily. When you do the math, the number of people who have been killed since Sept. 11, 2001 as the result of an open border is nearly eight times greater than the number of U.S. servicemen killed since the beginning of the war.

We must stop playing political games by cloaking this issue with the mantle of racism, because the consequences of an open border are real and deadly. It is true that the majority of illegal immigrants are peaceful, good and honest people who just want to better their lives, but the stark and horrible reality of the matter is that along with the well-intentioned people come some bad apples who will bring harm to our society. And they come in droves.

King reported 2,920 children are molested by illegal immigrants annually. According to Deborah Schurman-Kauflin of the Violent Crimes Institute of Atlanta, there are an estimated 240,000 illegal immigrant sex offenders in the United States with an average of four victims each. The Government Accountability Office released a report in April of 2005 concluding that of the 55,322 incarcerated illegal aliens studied each had an average of 8 arrests and 13 criminal offenses.

Politicians cry from their podiums to bring the soldiers home, and the war has understandably become a very emotional and politically charged issue. After all, the number of U.S. servicemen lost over the past five years has surpassed the number of civilians killed on one day in September. I think we need some perspective, though:

• Mexican-American War: Lasted two years, 13,283 U.S. servicemen died

• Civil War: Lasted four years, 562,130 U.S. servicemen died

• World War I: Lasted four years, 116,708 U.S. servicemen died

• World War II: Lasted six years, 408,306 U.S. servicemen died

• Korean War: Lasted three years, 54,246 U.S. servicemen died

• Vietnam War: Lasted 14 years, 58,219 U.S. servicemen died

So far the War on Terror has lasted five years at the cost of 3,230 U.S. servicemen. If we care about human life as much as we say we do, then we would at least be equally horrified at the number of deaths that are the result of illegal immigration — which over the past five years has amounted to nearly half as much as the total deaths of the 14-year-long Vietnam War — as we are over the deaths of our soldiers overseas. I think it behooves us all to not brush away the topic for fear of being labeled with a scarlet "R."

Reach columnist Brandon Dennis at brandondennis@thedaily.washington.edu.