Migrants cost us because we don’t let them work
Manhattan: Voicer John Colella asks for my solution to his “sensible solution” that we send all migrants home. The root of the problem stems from the Refugee Act of 1980, passed to ensure that the U.S. never repeats its refusal to accept Jewish refugees during the Holocaust, and focused on allowing refugees from Communist Vietnam to settle in America. The act established two paths to legal entry: “refugee” status for people vetted by the United Nations and the State Department, with a ceiling on their number set by the president, and “asylum” for people who are already in the U.S. — no vetting, no ceiling and no matter how they arrived. This category is the problem, as the Department of Homeland Security and immigration courts must hear each case individually. Anyone can demand such a hearing.
Starting in 2014, Barack Obama moved to limit asylum-seekers through aggressive border enforcement. He hoped to deport many and persuade Congress to reform immigration law. He got fewer seekers but no reform. Donald Trump tried more radical restrictions, separating children from their families and cutting the number of asylum hearings. Neither worked. The number of asylum seekers only went down thanks to COVID.
The long lines in New York are those still in the hearing process, often for years. Most are denied eventually, but they are here in the meantime. All want to work, and most do illegally. The Refugee Act needs reform to radically reduce the hearings process, but asylum-seekers should be granted work permits. I’m sure Colella would prefer to dispense with the rule of law and ignore international realities, but the sensible solution is to return to what America does best: Give all people a chance. Michael Barnhart
Irrational concern
Madison, Pa.: I read in an article in the Tuesday edition (“Trump leads GOP,” Jan 16) that the No. 1 issue for Republican Iowa caucus voters was immigration. That’s extremely funny and illustrative of Republican hypocrisy. Who do they think makes up the majority of the workforce in the meat processing plants in their state? Or a large number of the agricultural workers? And I fail to understand how a state with a total population that is equal to or less than some of the boroughs in NYC can determine who should run for president. Gimme a break!
Tom Mielczarek
Sinning ‘n winning
Mount Sinai, L.I.: I can’t believe that the poster boy for the seven deadly sins romped to a huge victory in evangelical Iowa! This election will not be about Democrats and Republicans, but light and darkness and good and evil. Period! Karl Bean
Same old stuff
Astoria: Left-wing media, rightwing media, it is still “The Trump Show.” And it is exhausting because it is empty calories — no nutritional value at all!
Karen N. Pearlman
Brother against brother
Howard Beach: In response to Voicer August Vicari’s comment about Donald Trump being the Antichrist: Everything that man said is bullcrap! I should know, August is my brother. Dom Vicari
Uplifting screed
Congers, N.Y.: To Voicer Earl Beal: I was having a tough morning and then I saw your letter. I laughed so hard I felt much better. Thanks!
Beth Friscino
Opposing examples
Bronx: Voicer Glenn Hayes indicates that the supposedly mild way law enforcement handled the Jan. 6 insurrection is “proof” of white privilege since the peaceful 1963 March on Washington 70 years ago had “innumerable police” on standby. But in 2020, BLM was allowed to cause damage in many cities (termed “unrest” by the media) with extremely little police intervention, and the few participants who were arrested had their charges dropped. So privilege goes to everyone, regardless of color.
Eric Cavaballo Callvado
Home polluters
Brooklyn: To Voicer Mike Bassalay: You are right, President Biden should get rid of the gas stoves in the White House kitchens as well as everywhere else. You should read the article in Scientific American of Jan. 19, 2023 about the hazards of gas stoves. I know I must sound extremely “woke” to think that getting rid of such an American institution as gas stoves is a good idea, but 1 in 17 kids in this country, or 5.8%, have asthma. Gas stove emissions definitely contribute to this problem. I know that cancel culture is a big thing today, but to help the nearly 3 million kids and millions of adults with breathing difficulties, canceling gas stoves should be addressed! Harvey Kaplan
The harder they fall
Saddle Brook, N.J.: As a lifelong New York Giants fan, I take solace in the early exit from the playoffs by both the Cowboys and Eagles. In the words of the late Wellington Mara: “It is always nice when arrogance is humbled.”
Joseph M. Savoia
Sole responsibility
Tivoli, N.Y.: Train surfing has been going on since the 1970s. The only person at fault is the dumbbell who decides to ride on top of a moving subway car. If they fall off and get hurt or die, there is nobody to blame but them. Why is it so wrong for people to take personal responsibility for their actions? If you are dumb enough to ride on top of a subway car then it’s on you and nobody else.
Marc Savino
Bad touch
Forest Hills: Re “Rudy Giuliani and the city he remade” (op-ed, Jan. 2): A positive piece of work by Christian Browne. No argument from me, even though I didn’t agree with everything Rudy did. However, reading the piece reminded me of a book I read several years ago, “Everything Trump Touches Dies,” by Rick Wilson, a conservative Republican political strategist. Remember Reince Priebus, Rex Tillerson, Mike Pence, John Kelly, etc. — and the biggest name of all, Rudolph Giuliani. Bankrupt, bigtime. So, Mr. Browne, if you start a GoFundMe page for Rudy, I’ll be happy to send what I can. That’s because Rudy has been touched by Trump, and you know what that means. Carole Miles
Treacherous trek
Saugerties, N.Y.: Mayor Adams is clueless about the need for closing NYC schools because of bad weather. He is apparently unaware that teachers and students commute to school and it is often dangerous for them when there is heavy rain, snow, sleet or ice. Traffic reports for Jan. 16 all highlighted how treacherous road conditions were, and there was encouragement to stay off the roads. Students and teachers no longer live within an easy walk, bus or train ride to a neighborhood school. Teachers may commute throughout the five boroughs or from New Jersey through Staten Island and into Brooklyn or beyond. The NYC Department of Education spent millions of dollars during the pandemic to equip teachers, administrators and students for remote access. There isn’t any reason it can’t be used during inclement weather, keeping everyone safe. Jo Galante
Preoccupied
Henderson, Nev.: Now we know why the United States was so slow in response to Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The defense secretary went AWOL while his boss, the commander-in-chief, went on holiday on St. Croix. Unbelievable! David Tulanian
Insensitive
Astoria: To Voicer Mel Moskowitz: You sound like a person of the terrorist organization Hamas. No word about the atrocities, killings, rapes and kidnappings by Hamas on Oct. 7, which were condemned by the civilized world. You give figures provided by Hamas that haven’t been independently verified. Your proposals are exactly what Hamas wants to ensure its survival: a ceasefire so it can regroup and negotiations for the exchange of innocent hostages with thousands of condemned terrorists, many of them murderers of children and women. The terrorists shouldn’t hide among civilians if they care so much about civilian casualties. “The wars will stop when the Arabs love their children more than they hate Jews,” said Golda Meir. We, the civilized world, must support the fight of humanity against evil. Where is your humanity? Soterios Vrontis
Derogatory
Monroe Township, N.J.: To Voicer J.C. Wade: Anyone can become an addict. Recovery is difficult. A person who struggles to get clean and sober and succeeds deserves your respect. They do not deserve to be called a crackhead. Lorri Thompson