Immigration reform fight caused humanitarian crisis

There is a crisis but it is in the White House and the U.S. Senate. Spending $5.7 billion in taxpayer funds for a wall is immoral. Lying is immoral and demonizing undocumented immigrants when the president knows that the crime rate among the undocumented is actually lower than that of the general population is immoral.

It is wrong to hold 800,000 federal workers and their families hostage to a demand for a wall, which will not deter people from fleeing the dangers of violence and poverty in their countries of origin. It is a lie to claim that a wall will significantly deter drug smuggling.

Yes, there is a humanitarian crisis at our southern border and it has been caused by and continues to be exacerbated by the president and a Congress that have been unable to agree on comprehensive immigration reform. No wall! We need comprehensive immigration reform now.

— James Purcell, Los Gatos