Court's ruling on tariffs, DHS shutdown, kids misbehaving

A stunning rebuke to the high court

The headline read, [“Trump’s tariffs struck down” News, Feb. 21]. Well, not quite. Tariffs remain. It was the claim of “emergency” that was denied. The most astounding thing was President Donald Trump’s defiant, insulting response. The second notable thing was that three Supreme Court justices, supposedly “originalists,” could accept so clear a violation of the plain text of the Constitution.

In his 2025 inaugural address, Trump, in effect, declared war on Congress. On Friday, he lashed out at the high court, rejecting its decision, the literal “rule of law.” He said justices were “fools,” “unpatriotic,” and “disloyal” and displayed contempt for the court, Congress, and majority public sentiment, by executive ordering new tariffs.

In effect, Trump repeated to the world his 2019 claim that: “I have an Article II, where I have to the right to do whatever I want as president.” On Friday, the court said: not quite.

— Brian Kelly, Rockville Centre

If Donald Trump’s tariffs plan were to succeed in funding the government at the same level as it had functioned, that would have resulted in a massive transfer of wealth from those who earn and spend, to those who own and sell.

It would also have given the president the kind of autocratic power that conservatives never wanted their head of state to have — even for only 150 days.

— Mitch Kessler, Copiague

Enforce the law with fairness for all

Kudos to Rabbi A. Brian Stoller for his eloquent essay on the immigrant situation “For Long Islanders, silence is not neutral,” Opinion, Feb. 19]. I am Hispanic, Jewish, and speak both Spanish and English perfectly.

Recently, I was speaking Spanish to a cashier at a local store. When I left the store, an agent for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement approached me. Seeing that I am white-skinned, he apologized and left. Perhaps he figured I was a Spanish teacher.

What has our beloved country turned into that the color of your skin matters more than anything else? I support President Donald Trump. But I don’t carry my citizenship papers with me. These unfortunate immigrants, most of whom also don’t carry citizenship papers with them, are of darker skin tones, and many get arrested. Our wonderful country values white skin.

I cried when I heard that two fellow Hispanics were arrested. They were of darker skin. Do local shops avoid hiring Hispanics because they may lose their workers? We are removing the vital roles that immigrants play in our economy. How will these honest people survive?

— Fani Gellman, Merrick

The Democrats are asking the Department of Homeland Security to follow the law just like every other law enforcement agency in the country. I don’t understand what the problem is with the Republicans, the party of law and order, asking the DHS to obtain warrants, use body cameras, not to wear masks, and properly identify themselves. What are they afraid of?

— Mark Stysiack, Ridge

Another shutdown, this time a “partial” one [“No clear path to fund DHS,” Nation & World, Feb. 16]. Besides DHS, our Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security Administration employees and their families will be impacted. These agencies provide vital services.

So, do why ICE officers need to be masked, wear no identification, and apparently do not need federally issued warrants to search?

Police officers throughout the country wear name tags and have body cameras, no masks, and are in harm’s way daily. Aren’t their families also at risk as Kristi Noem, secretary of homeland security, claims about ICE agents’ fear of being identified?

Illegal immigration is a problem. Ridding our country of those who commit violent crimes should and will be enforced by all policing agencies. Yet many who have entered our country illegally have lived and provided for their families and ours, such as working in agriculture and construction and have helped keep our economy strong. They should be given a path to obtaining citizenship the right way.

Our elected representatives should work collaboratively, stop the party bickering, and pass legislation to get our government fully open.

— Robert Pape, Hicksville

I am concerned about defunding DHS as a means to defund ICE. One must realize that defunding DHS would have a significant impact on several essential services.

— Gerald Fortsch, Smithtown

Don’t ignore kids’ bad behavior in school

The theme of your editorial [“Miss school, miss education” Opinion, Feb. 20] makes perfect sense, but I take issue with the admonition that we must “stop punishing kids for missing class.”

The editorial board is painting with too broad a brush. When a student misses a class for reasons other than illness or some other legitimate purpose, there should be a consequence of some kind, perhaps detention after school.

Ignoring bad behavior isn’t a plan; it’s a recipe for encouraging more bad behavior. However, nothing I’ve said here detracts from the editorial’s point that schools must help kids “build positive relationships with staff and peers.” In a reasonable world, positive reinforcement and punishment can and should live side by side.

— Joseph Darrigo, Mount Sinai

The writer is a retired high school principal.