Mike Sigman's anger in his letter, “A war against the Constitution” (Herald, Sept. 10) reminds me of Dr. Seuss' Yooks and Zooks going to war over the correct side to butter bread.
Mr. Sigman's “pro-American” should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. He should want enforcement of immigration laws but should also respect the other laws – i.e., constitutional guarantees that exist in favor of the undocumented immigrant.
The Supreme Court in 1953 held that aliens, regardless of their legal status, are “persons” guaranteed due process of law by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Unfortunately, masked ICE agents grabbing largely peaceful and hard-working immigrants and whisking them out of the country does not conform to traditional standards of fairness, is not due process, and thus is not “pro-American.” Calling it out for what it is, by Herald or by any other voice, is pro-American.
Immigration has long been a bedrock of the American experiment, but in modern times has become a shorthand for political grievance, real or imagined. Party and most recently presidential politics have obstructed congressional attempts for comprehensive reform. Yet, no amount of “socialist/Marxist” verbiage, or conversely “fascist/Gestapo” labeling, will inform us as to the correct side to butter the bread.
In my opinion, coming from a proud 1963-64 graduate of Needham elementary, justifying masked ICE raids by ignoring the Constitution, and by conflating anecdotal and isolated criminal conduct to the entire immigrant community, is not “pro-American.”
Craig Olivier
Durango
