To the editor:
Like their leader Donald Trump, Jay Webber and his supporters are now resorting to fear mongering about immigration and sanctuary cities. When all else fails, they can terrorize us with threats of illegals pouring over the border, many of whom are women and children fleeing for their lives. Their horror stories fade when exposed to the light of truth. Here are some FACTS, gathered from the website of the Anti-Defamation League (you can see them for yourself):
1. Both legal AND illegal immigration is DOWN.
“In 2014 there were approximately 11.3 million undocumented immigrants living and working in the U.S., which is actually a significant decrease from the 12.2 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. in 2007. Today, in fact, the net migration from Mexico (the number of people entering the U.S. from Mexico minus the number of people leaving the U.S. to go to Mexico) is around zero. Undocumented immigrants make up about 3.5 percent of the nation’s total population.”
2. Both legal AND illegal immigrants commit crimes at LOWER rates than native born citizens.
“Immigrants—regardless of where they are from, what immigration status they hold, and how much education they have completed—are less likely than native-born citizens to commit crimes or become incarcerated”
Donald Trump uses disgusting language to demonize those escaping death and poverty by coming to the U.S. seeking sanctuary. That is why hundreds of faith leaders from every religion are preparing to go to the border today to meet the group of Hondurans seeking entry here. Webber wants to follow Trump’s suit in heartlessly slamming the door in the face of people who have committed no crime other than being born in the wrong place at the wrong time. In contrast, Mikie Sherrill wants compassionate, common sense immigration reforms that are in line with the entire history of this nation.
Trump and his Republican followers not only demonize undocumented immigrants, but are actively working to make it harder for people to immigrate legally to this country, restricting the number of entrants, accepting the lowest rates of refugees in decades, and ending temporary protected status for many countries (these are all LEGAL forms of immigration.) We do not need to fear sanctuary cities or common sense, compassionate and smart immigration reform. What we should worry about, instead, is a hard-hearted Republican party that might one day knock on our doors—those of us whose families came here from elsewhere once upon a time—and decide we are a threat to this nation, too.
Laura Morowitz
Verona
