Change is needed

To the Editor,

Last week ICE shot two more legal immigrants on American streets bringing the total to 17.

Lorenzo Araujo worked in the US for 35 years with no criminal record and provided 3 of his children with a college education. Sebastian Guerrero, a young father with a legal work permit, was shot in front of his 3 year old daughter. How many more died of the widely substantiated abuse in ICE’s detention/concentration camps is unknown as the DHS has recently refused to release the information. By definition a concentration camp is where people are incarcerated without due process like ICE detention centers.

Some ICE proponents claim immigrants are abusing children without a shred of evidence (Falsehoods and propaganda) whereas multiple studies on the issue document immigrants committing fewer crimes than the US average. Also undocumented immigrants, who must pay taxes, are by law not eligible for social security, unemployment insurance, nor any form of welfare. Due to this, according to the US Congressional Budget Office, undocumented immigrants reduced the federal deficit by $63 billion over the last 10 years.

Meanwhile, we have an “on again – off again” war that has cost 18 American lives, over 600 wounded, and roughly $100 billion in tax money to date according to the Pentagon. This unwanted war has caused prices to rise across the board besides gas prices and, combined with the tariffs, put severe pressure on America’s farmers. In MN alone, the farm bankruptcy rate is at its’ highest point since the 1980s.

With regard to both of these issues; US Representative Michelle Fischbach has voted to fund ICE with $70 billion in taxpayer money and voted against a “War Powers” resolution aimed at curtailing the Iran War. It is time for a change in Washington!

Mark Jokela

Osage