Migrants, who arrived on a flight sent by Florida Gov....

Migrants, who arrived on a flight sent by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, gather outside a church on Sept. 14 in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard. Credit: AP/Ray Ewing

William F.B. O’Reilly’s op-ed about the immigrants who were tricked into boarding a plane for Martha’s Vineyard was chilling in its heartlessness “Sending migrants north is a good idea,” Opinion, Sept. 21].

Sure, he gave lip service to having some humanity. Nowhere, though, does he mention the pain inflicted on these vulnerable men, women and children for a cheap political stunt. He doesn’t acknowledge the plot of lying and deceit, or the promise of jobs, housing and help that got these desperate individuals to board those flights with hope and gratitude.

The intent was to inflict maximum harm. But O’Reilly lauded the action, claiming that “Republican governors from Southern states are on to something.” That “something,” unfortunately, is performative cruelty.

— Ellen Meister, Jericho

William F.B. O’Reilly wrote that “Republican governors from Southern states are on to something.” Really? What exactly are they “on to”? Treating humans as less than human? Pawns in some political game, manipulated to prove a political point? The morally reprehensible treatment of these refugees should be condemned for what it is, not glorified and used for political gain — and perhaps votes.

While it is certainly valid that this nation’s immigration issues need to be remedied, the inaction of our government leaders — especially Congress — does not excuse this inhumane treatment. Like my own ancestors, today’s immigrants are coming to this country in search of a better life for themselves and future generations.

— Frances S. Hilliard, Hicksville

That New York City has had to take in thousands of migrants is proof that our “liberal leaders” are fully aware of the problem and, unlike the demagogue governors down south, they truly care. William F.B. O’Reilly is correct that this crisis needs to be addressed, but staging political stunts that exploit poor immigrants as pawns is no solution to this slow-moving tragedy.

— James A. Clark, Syosset

In the editorial “No more stunts on immigration” [Opinion, Sept. 21], the board writes that sending migrants to Washington and Martha’s Vineyard were “two of the ugliest stunts to stain our immigration battles.” Yet the board shows zero sympathy for border states that have borne the brunt of undocumented immigrants for years.

Can the board at least agree that these “stunts” helped expose the immigration hypocrisy of our government?

Hopefully, it will lead to some reform. The Democrats control both executive and legislative branches and have turned out executive orders and bills about all sorts of things — except immigration. We must get something done or else we won’t have an America.

— Dolores Madsen, Bayville

I agree that the problem should not fall upon the few states that are receiving the vast majority of people [“GOP governors escalate migrant relocations,” News, Sept. 16].

However, isn’t there a better way to handle this? Gov. Ron DeSantis seems to enjoy dropping planeloads of asylum seekers in “sanctuary” states. Deriving glee from people’s misery is un-American. How difficult would it have been to have a staffer call ahead so the people could at least be greeted with basic human needs.

I’m glad Florida had a spare $12 million for this project, but couldn’t that money have been better spent on helping these people find friends or relatives to take them in?

— Chris Marzuk, Greenlawn

We hear about the tremendous hardships that undocumented immigrants endure just to get to our border [“Migrant busing decried,” News, Sept. 19].

They chose this option rather than take the legal immigration route as many others do, waiting to be accepted. So now, it’s said to be inhumane, anti-American, cruel and an undue hardship to be bused or flown to a state or city that has proclaimed itself willing to care for anyone regardless of status. All it shows is the hypocrisy of the left.

— Andrew Ross, Kings Park

Why don’t they just put the migrants back on the buses and send them back? Why should taxpayers here be responsible for paying for their housing, food and other expenses?

— Joseph Januszkiewicz, Mastic

Why is New York City Mayor Eric Adams complaining about Republican governors sending illegal immigrants to Democratic-controlled cities? They are sanctuary cities. Perhaps President Joe Biden should hire more southern border patrol guards instead of 87,000 Internal Revenue Service agents, and we wouldn’t have this problem.

— Wayne Mortak, West Babylon

Some readers have expressed outrage about busing undocumented immigrants to the Northeast from southern states that have been bearing the expense [“Number of migrants should be limited,” Letters, Sept. 19]. Why is there no outrage when the government flies undocumented immigrants all over the country?

The problem of the southern border will always be there unless Congress passes a law to address the problem. The president does not make laws, Congress does. Most of our politicians, on both sides, have been in office too long. They act in their self-interest, not in the interest of the people they were elected to represent. It’s time we realized that the members of Congress have to be changed.

— Donald Liantonio, Ridge

It seems that undocumented immigrants have more rights than citizens. Why is that? Or is it not politically correct to ask? If you don’t ask, you will never know. Who is footing the funds for all this immigration? We the taxpayers.

I served in the Korean War for four years. I came in the front door as an immigrant and never got anything for free. No housing, health insurance or tuition. No food stamps. And it took me five years after I entered this country to receive my citizenship.

— Mark Cassuto, Huntington

Where is the outrage by the clergy and all those who are purportedly anti-abortion, wherein every person/soul is sacred? Silence, while people are used as pawns to divide Americans to raise money.

A governor uses tax dollars to transport migrants from another state, recording the event for political purposes. Aren’t those moral stalwarts aghast at the illegality?

A governor approves deception and lies to fool unsuspecting kids and pregnant women, some of whom need health services. And these people were not sent back. They were greeted with humanity and respect.

The governors’ actions do not indicate whom we are, nor whom we want to be. These misanthropic politicians deserve to be sent on a plane with promises of power and position — to Russia, Hungary or China.

— Bob Detor, Port Washington

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN OUR DAILY CONVERSATION. Email your opinion on the issues of the day to letters@newsday.com. Submissions should be no more than 200 words. Please provide your full name, hometown, phone numbers and any relevant expertise or affiliation. Include the headline and date of the article you are responding to. Letters become the property of Newsday and are edited for all media. Due to volume, readers are limited to one letter in print every 45 days. Published letters reflect the ratio received on each topic.

Newsday LogoSUBSCRIBEUnlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 5 months
ACT NOWSALE ENDS SOON | CANCEL ANYTIME