Nation of immigrants

It’s encouraging to read about religious faiths working together to aid immigrants (“Faiths come together to support those in greatest need,” March 8). It’s disturbing to see that, under President Trump, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is no longer committed to affirming or defending America’s promise as a nation of immigrants. Instead, immigrants trying to file legal papers have been handed over to federal agents and incarcerated.

Trump’s policies are absolutely unacceptable and his statements highly offensive, and further proof of the racism deeply ingrained in the policies and practices of his administration.

Nations like Haiti, El Salvador and African are not the “s---hole countries” Trump derided. The black and brown people coming from them are seeking a better life, just like millions of immigrants who have come before them to this country.

Yet Trump has attacked just such people through his actions to rescind the program protecting the “Dreamers” and end protection for those who came to the U.S. under the Temporary Protected Status program.

Clearly Trump’s goal is to deport as many people of color as possible.

— Rev. Arthur L. Mackey Jr.,

Roosevelt, N.Y.

The writer is senior minister at Mount Sinai Baptist Church Cathedral.