FROMA HARROP

we need to confront China’s unfair practices.

The most potent issue in Trump’s “America First” platform is immigration. On this, Democrats must pay heed. Every time Trump’s flagging political fortunes need a shot, he plays on working-class fears of foreigners taking their jobs.

These fears are not unwarranted and not limited to those without college degrees. Arizona, where teachers walked out over pathetically low pay, is one of many states that have hired cheaper replacements from the Philippines.

The American Federation of Teachers has condemned the visa program that brings in foreign teachers to undercut its members.

Democrats should and do condemn Trump’s ugly racial remarks regarding immigrants. They should talk up the important role immigrants play in our economy and demand humane treatment of the foreign-born. But they often don’t make clear that Americans’ interests should be paramount.

Our immigration program doesn’t exist to give opportunity to people who want to come here. (That it does is a happy byproduct of the program, not a reason for it.)

Americans should get to decide who and how many people come to this country — just as Canadians and Australians do. And those considerations should change as conditions in our labor markets change. E-mail letters to: letters@theday.com Mail letters to: P.O. Box 1231 The Day New London, CT 06320