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Ms. Billie M. Spaight's avatar

You are making sense Peter. I am horrified that Trump is setting up camps to put people in prior to deporting them. This is too reminiscent of the Nazis. You are correct that we need a safe and sane system for granting access to good people and weeding out bad people. And Trump ought to not threaten to denaturalize people just because he doesn't agree with them. That is so wrong on so many levels! I think it is also instructive to remember that the U.S. took massive parts of Mexico back in our history. Is it any wonder that the chickens are coming home to roost? When I first saw the headline of this topic, I flinched. I went "oh no, not THAT topic!" I was all ready to argue. But before arguing, I, of course had to read the whole essay so I would know what to fight with. LOL. And as I read, all the fight got out of me. It just dissipated because you showed your usual compassion and love for all human beings. You also showed your usual ability to go between the extremes and find a better way. Thank you, Peter.

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Rick Gordon's avatar

There are many good points made in your essay but you bypass and ignore the 10 million or more who broke our immigration laws since 2020. Yes, I am in agreement that those who came in many years ago as minors and have worked hard should have a path to legal status - with some education and financial requirements. If we do not update our immigration laws to allow for current day needs as well as prosecute and deport criminals and those who want to overthrow our government and society we will be finished.

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Peter Himmelman's avatar

Yes, as I’ve written in my essay, the problem is highly complex. I’m aware of the issues you raise in your thoughtful resonate. Thank you for taking the time to write to me Rick.

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dyz's avatar

Thanks Peter,

Respectfully, imigration is something that you cannot ride the fence on. Either there are borders or there are not borders.

Without law enforcement what's the purpose of law?

There are literally millions of (law abiding) legal immigrants residing in the U.S. today and they are - not - being "treated like criminals".

Do you remember the border patrol whipping hoax?!

Relentless lies, propaganda and hyperbole from the deranged anti-American media have created yet another false narrative. Don't fall for it.

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Peter Himmelman's avatar

Thanks DYZ,

Your point is well taken. I don’t believe I’ve “fallen,” I am however, wrestling.

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dee's avatar

Dyz, Best comment. But I am very disappointed in Peter's post. If you are here illegally then you need to leave. Simple.

These people (esp the young men) are abandoning their countries. Their illegal immigration is morally wrong and is cheating the countries they deserted; divesting their home of all their young people who could fix their countries' problems. Being a bleeding heart will not help them, or their countries, or us in the USA, or future generations. It will keep on and on until they suck the lifeblood out of the USA, and their own countries as well.

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dyz's avatar

dee, I understand your disappointment I just don't share it...and Peter doesn't need me to defend his comments because any rational being should be able to empathize with his concerns. However, such worriess are unwarranted...they are on the margins of reality at best. There is -not- some mass sweeping deportation scheme underway. It's just another lie fabricated by the political left. Anyway, the law of large numbers makes such endeavors impossible. The U.S. simply doesn't have the resources to do it if it tried.

Agreed, those who knowingly (illegally) sneaked into the country should absolutely face consequences... imo, most should be fined, vetted, tested and be required to take assimilation training, learn basic English and apply for citizenship before being allowed to stay... all of the other free-loaders, tax dodgers and violent thieves should be methodically hunted, charged, convicted, imprisoned and then deported.

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Linda Wolf's avatar

this is so true, peter, if only you were in charge. what is happening to our friends of color is terrifying... our family members, people we've interacted with for decades, anyone who is brown these days is terrified and being typecast and focused on and is afraid. It is heartbreaking when we have worked so hard but need now to work harder to see ourselves as one people one planet... what is deeply troubling is how we human beings on the only planet we know of at this point simply can not figure out how to be on this planet together caring for our common home, caring for the nature which supports us, caring for each other to put it in simple terms.

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Heddy Breuer Abramowitz's avatar

Sorry no on your point that a camp is reminiscent of the Nazis. Read Primo Levy If This is a Man... no comparison. Other than that, I agreed with much of what you say.

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Peter Himmelman's avatar

Heddy, as an avid fan of Primo Levi, I want to make sure you understand that I wouid never make that sort of conflation. The two are universes apart. Something can be wrong without having to invoke the Shoah. People are emotional, I get that. One must remember that the world is filled with nuances.

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Heddy Breuer Abramowitz's avatar

Yes. I remember during the first Trump attempt at controlling borders that a New Yorker writer -forgive me for not referencing the name, but long gone in my memory file - made a ruckus out of metal cribs and said something like they were caged and in the same breath that they were concentration camps. No. No. and NO. It is too easy to invoke extremes of behavior. Any thinking person can understand that not every camp is a concentration camp. The worst of evil is not around every bend. Those masked vigilantes OTOH are appalling. And common sense demands preserving legality and reasonable respect for law. Thank you also for your research on Obama's record with borders and deportations. Not every progressive is a sweetie pie and not every conservative is a monster. At least not all the time.

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Ms. Billie M. Spaight's avatar

AMEN World Without End.

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Laurie Jarboe's avatar

Very well written, reasoned and compassionate.

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Yosef Rosenfield's avatar

Never heard anyone invoke 'lifnei iver' as part of immigration policy. I like it. A well thought-out position and a cool 'asmachta'.

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Peter Himmelman's avatar

It’s a leap, I know. And yet I made it.

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Viola Weinhold's avatar

What a great and thoughtful article about a complex issue. Any ideas about how we can manage it better? We do have to move out of the polarization in this dialogue.

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Peter Himmelman's avatar

Seeing and exploring this issue from many angles — and then having conversations within our own sphere of influence is a good place to start, I think.

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JVG's avatar

I fully agree with your points, Peter. Unfortunately, this administration prefers the ugly spectacle and harsh punishment. Otherwise, they would’ve put money in their budget for more immigration judges, rather than more agents and detention facilities.

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