I’m responding to the letters, “Immigration laws should be enforced, not ignored,” (Herald, Sept. 7) and “Don’t like deportations? Change the law,” (Herald, Sept. 7) that enthusiastically support current deportation practices. I believe nearly all Americans support deporting violent criminals, but what is happening now has gone too far.
I have good friends who came to the U.S. from Colombia more than 20 years ago, fleeing brutal threats of violence. At first they were granted immunity, but a judge rescinded that order for unknown reasons, putting their case on hold. It has remained undecided for decades. At least 1.5 million people are in this situation, waiting for an overburdened judicial system to decide their fate.
My friends are a hardworking, law-abiding family of five, all of whom work. They own a home. Two of the sons graduated from college and the youngest is working to finish his degree. They have paid taxes and contributed to social security.
Because of a glitch in the system, the youngest son, a college student working full-time, has no work permit. If questioned by ICE, he would certainly be deported. This is the only country the sons have ever known. All speak English fluently.
They follow the news about workplace raids, masked agents grabbing U.S. citizens off the streets, and racial profiling. What they read and hear causes them unrelenting stress and fear. The family lives on edge, constantly worrying that ICE will knock on their door or visit their workplace. I just can’t believe that most of those who voted for Trump wanted this.
Claire Raines
Durango
