ICE raids, health care, penny, school budget cap

Broader ICE raids raise concerns

Most of us would likely agree that the plan of deporting violent criminals and gang-affiliated immigrants who entered the country without legal permission has morphed into something more reaching and chaotic.

Tom Homan, President Donald Trump’s border czar, has made it clear that being in this country illegally is a crime, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are instructed to enforce the law. So, before anyone tries to justify these ICE raids as removing violent criminals or gang members, consider the agents’ directive.

These immigrants are considered criminals and subject to arrest. Couple that with Trump’s daily quota of 3,000 arrests and you have a recipe for chaos and the potential for placing agents and civilians in danger.

A Roosevelt High School student was arrested by Nassau County police for petit larceny and hadn’t even been arraigned before being turned over to ICE [“Second Roosevelt HS student held by ICE,” Long Island, Nov. 12]. He’s not said to be a violent criminal or an alleged gang member and was not given due process.

Trump’s original campaign promise of deporting violent criminals and gang members was supported by most Americans. This newer policy was not.

— Jim Kiernan, Holbrook

Across the country, families are living with fear and uncertainty as cruel immigration policies terrify the very caregivers who hold communities together. From child care providers to home health aides, immigrant caregivers play an essential role in caring for our children, supporting our elders, and strengthening our economy.

Yet instead of investing in care and stability, Republican members of Congress are cutting health care, nutrition, and child care programs while plenty of taxpayer dollars separate families and terrorize immigrant caregivers.

Caregivers make it possible for parents to work, for children to learn and grow, and for older adults to live with dignity. When trusted workers are torn from their jobs and families, the ripple effects are devastating. Patients lose consistent care, and families lose the stability that keeps them afloat.

Our nation needs a safe and orderly immigration process that balances compassion and security and ensures that our immigrant caregivers are treated with dignity and respect. We do not need cuts to programs that provide the tools and opportunities families use to build good lives, and we assuredly do not need cruelty.

— Susan Frank, Shirley

I am unclear why ICE is continuing to seek out and arrest individuals who are showing up for work or to comply with immigration requirements and are simply following the rules [“Asylum-seekers at LI office hit by ICE crackdown,” News, Nov. 9].

Donald Trump has often said many countries have been emptying their jails and their mental institutions of thousands and sending these people to the United States.

If ICE truly wants to rid this country of criminals, I suggest it start in our prisons, not in our schools, not at the employment office, and not at other locations where immigrants are trying to do the right thing.

— Ted D. Gluckman, Rockville Centre

So, goodbye penny and hello math chaos

If you buy something and the tax rate is applied — 8.625% in Nassau County and 8.75% in Suffolk County — the chances are pretty good it will come out to a sum ending in 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 or 9 cents [“U.S. Mint in Philadelphia presses final pennies,” News, Nov. 13].

If there are no pennies and it’s rounded to the nearest nickel, how can accurate change be made? Will the state forgo extra cents? Will stores be allowed to charge $9.98 for an item?

This is yet another government example of “leap without looking.” As a numismatist, I have always thought the best current solution is to eliminate the costly material of pennies, the copper/zinc alloy. Make them out of recycled junk metals. Who would then counterfeit a penny? It would be a money-losing proposition. If they are worth little, who cares what they are made of?

Being unable to make accurate change is a math and legal payment problem that has ramifications beyond the size of a penny.

— Ron Greenfield, Wantagh

Health policy in flux will lead to next step

We’ve yet to hear a valid reason from the Republicans for not agreeing to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies “Economists: Shutdown to leave lasting mark,” News, Nov. 16]. Saying that immigrants entering this country illegally get free health care has mostly proven to be untrue, so why did the GOP keep holding the American people hostage?

It certainly isn’t because the government can’t afford it, considering the tax cuts and subsidies for the wealthy and corporations, as well as the supposed Department of Government Efficiency cuts.

The results of the recent elections should be a wake-up call for President Donald Trump and the Republicans that their policies are neither popular nor working.

— Bill Lapof, East Islip

Decide how to avoid piercing budget cap

It’s not surprising that the Smithtown Town Board voted unanimously to adopt the cap-breaking budget with a 10.7% increase [“Smithtown board OKs cap-busting budget,” News, Nov. 17]. It’s much easier to take the impersonal route and just raise taxes across the board.

The old excuses of it being necessary to avoid layoffs or maintaining services for seniors, youth, parks, lifeguards, and other items are always used. Making cuts to expenditures requires careful management, innovation, and tough decisions.

— Andrew Moss, Kings Park