Immigrants Enrich Our Country

Okay, readers, hands up if you or your ancestors are/were immigrants to the United States, legal or illegal. All hands up?

Even Native Americans came across the Bering Straits or by land. They have the best claim to land, however, since they arrived long before Europeans, Africans and Asians.

Then, explain the Mass Deportation signs on display at the Republican National Convention and the anti-immigrant tone to the speeches; and why Republicans just scuttled the bipartisan immigration bill.

Should legal and illegal immigrants be deported? If we consider recent immigrants, Republicans may become uncomfortable – two of ex-President Trump’s wives were/are immigrants; his mother was from Scotland and grandfather from Germany. J.D. Vance’s wife is from immigrant parents; while both Mitch McConnell and Steve Mnuchin’s wives are immigrants. Who have I missed? Michael Baumgartner, Spokane’s Treasurer, – whose wife is an immigrant.

In the Voter’s Pamphlet Baumgartner wrote the southern border is wide open with thousands pouring into the country, and Mexican cartels bring fentanyl and leave a trail of crime and homelessness.

Contrary to Baumgarner’s assertions, the border does have restrictions, however faulty. Crossings at the border are down, and 90 per cent of fentanyl is smuggled by U.S. citizens. Furthermore, crime among current non-citizens is lower than U.S. citizens.

My experiences of helping newly-arrived immigrants while volunteering at World Relief and Barton English Language School have been unbelievably positive and broadening. Most immigrants do nothing but enrich our country. Maybe that is the secret these politicians are hiding from us.

Nancy Street,

Cheney