To the Editor:
I am disheartened by the lack of compassion and empathy of so many folks who respond to articles and columns about the inhumanity this country is tolerating from ICE agents towards suspected “illegals”. The typical comment I see is “being here illegally is a crime”, “America is for Americans”, “lock them up, ship them out”.
When last I looked, the U.S. Constitution requires due process — fair legal proceedings — before a person is deprived of life, liberty, or property. Yet, we are watching and tolerating ICE round up, detain in inhumane conditions, and deport thousands of people without any regard whatsoever for due process. Even worse, and something that should tug at some cord of compassion that surely exists in all of us, they are shooting and killing people who have been afforded no due process whatsoever. People living peacefully and contributing to this country — their only “crime” being mistaken for someone else, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or just maybe entering illegally or overstaying a visa.
This is America and people are not supposed to be shot down in cold blood by law enforcement agents. Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo were mistakenly pursued and never had a chance to be heard before they were shot and killed. Their families have been devastated and destroyed. Guerrero’s 3-year old daughter was on the scene of her father’s shooting. How can anyone support this governmental action?
ICE is lawless. It is not enforcing the rule of law as Town Board Member Joann Waski stated in her recent opinion piece. Hispanic residents are here legally are understandably frightened and fearful to go out because of the actions of ICE. It is way past time for this Town Board to sit down and talk with OLA. Failure to do so is a dereliction of duty to those they serve. Before you judge a man walk a mile in his shoes and most importantly afford him due process as required by the U.S. Constitution. Show some compassion for those being terrorized by the lawlessness of ICE.
Kathleen McGraw
Northville
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