Immigration numbers

Regarding “As Abbott orders state police to return migrants to border, critics on the right say it’s not enough,” (July 7): Reading the ongoing legal battles about immigration, I have to wonder if readers are aware of the true magnitude of the issue. Each million refugees in the so-called invasion at the southern border equals less than onethird of 1 percent of the U.S. population.

Yes, Congress needs to sort this out, but the fevered rhetoric seems way out of proportion to the actual issue.

J.M. Wright, Houston

Regarding “Report: Justice Department probing Texas’ border mission,” (July 6): I am not sure everyone is enjoying the payback on their investment in the Texas National Guard at the border at a cost of about $4 billion for the current two-year cycle. If you divide by the number of citizens, it is a bit over $100 a head, but for a family of four that is about $400. So, if Mr. Abbott approached you and asked, “Will you give me $400 for the Texas National Guard on our border?” would you hand it over? But, he did not ask, he just took it from you.

Henry Pownall, Houston

Regarding “Here’s how human smuggling works along the U.S.-Mexico border,” (July 1): Thanks to Elizabeth Trovall for connecting the dots between current restrictive border policies and international crime. The harder we make it to enter the U.S., the higher the fees smugglers can demand. It is time to widen the legal paths toward entry into the U.S. with options for expanding definitions of asylum, temporary and longer-term work visas, and stepwise progression to citizenship. It would reduce financial support for crime rings and drug cartels that lead the way in human smuggling. Judy Levison, Houston