ICE raids and deportations: Apply a statute of limitations

Several articles have been written about law-abiding, local immigrants picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Two brothers, for example, were brought here over a decade ago [“Rally against immigration crackdown,” News, July 2]. They have been model students, involved with their church and have had no criminal history.

Nuvia Yessinia Martinez, a mother of five, came here in 2016 after gang members murdered her husband “Temporary reprieve for Island mom of 5,” News, June 24]. She was picked up while reporting for an immigration check-in. And Fernando Meija was arrested outside the bagel shop he managed [“Uproar as ICE takes bagel store manager,” News, June 18].

Many crimes have statutes of limitations, and I think this should apply to undocumented people, many of whom have been here for a decade. They have checked in regularly, and the government has permitted them to remain here, marry Americans, have American children, work and pay taxes.

These stories hurt my heart, and it is not what this country is about. We should give them a pathway to remain here legally, especially those brought here as children. It is wrong to deport law-abiding immigrants with deep community roots.

— Barbara Kurek, East Islip

U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw rightly called family separation “one of the most shameful chapters in the history of our country.” Both President Donald Trump and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller bear responsibility for this abuse and cruelty.

We have seen the devastating consequences firsthand. Some parents were afraid to attend their own children’s high school graduations, terrified that ICE agents might be waiting. Families have been torn apart, sometimes permanently. This should shake the conscience of every American— and every person of faith

Amid this injustice, courageous nuns have stood unanimously in support of immigrant families, offering care and compassion. Some priests, too, have answered the call — walking alongside the families, truly “smelling like the sheep,” as Pope Francis urged.

But we need more. More priests, bishops, and cardinals must raise their voices in moral opposition to this cruelty. Let us pray for a unified response from our Catholic clergy — one that might, by its strength and compassion, help bring an end to this injustice.

Silence, in the face of injustice, is complicity.

— Jim Hickey, Westbury

What is most disturbing is the glee some Republicans exhibit when talking about the deportations. A sizable number of the deportees have been in the country for decades, having been brought here as children by their parents.

The Republicans seemed to have had these now-grown children in their crosshairs for decades, refusing to provide a path to citizenship and unceasingly fighting against DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Republicans are quick to state that they are not against immigrants, who should go through legal channels. When Stephen Miller trumpets that he wants 3,000 daily arrests by ICE, it becomes a numbers game, and people are stripped of their humanity.

How could anyone approve deporting Paola Clouatre, a Marine veteran’s wife who was brought to the country as a child and was breastfeeding her 3-month-old daughter? The Republicans should be ashamed.

— Barbara Haynes, Hauppauge

I read “MS-13 leader gets 68 years” [News, July 3]. I’d like to know why we don’t read about these local gang members being deported. I thought the policy was to deport gang members and criminals.

Instead, I’ve seen hard-working people who have committed no major crimes being rounded up as ICE goes into stores, hospitals, farms, schools, construction sites and more. How many gang members or criminals are in any of these places? What’s happening in this country is a disgrace.

— Sherri Levinson, Great Neck

A gang of masked people can swoop down on someone in the United States [“Masked arrests a wrong message,” Editorial, July 1]. How is this legal? Law enforcement officers are generally expected to identify themselves. Are these government officials exempt from that? If so, why? Why would they be afraid of their identities being known if they are doing nothing wrong?

Regardless of how one feels about illegal immigration, this type of enforcement will be looked at with shame in the future in much the same way that World War II Japanese internment camps are now viewed. None of us should be proud of this.

— Robert Cheeseman, Wantagh

I frequently see Newsday cover hundreds of people protesting over ICE personnel doing its legally assigned duties, detaining and arresting lawbreakers.

However, several times each year, hundreds of people stage protests to protect the lives of the unborn, and Newsday rarely reports these events.

Protecting babies, unborn or born, should be a priority for every person in our country.

— Richard Sisson, West Babylon