Jim Graeve, St. Joseph
On Nov. 25, in the USA section of the St. Cloud Times, an article appeared stating the new President-elect Donald Trump and his advisors were considering the use of local law enforcement, police and sheriff to assist in arresting undocumented immigrants. Immigration laws are a federal requirement under the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement Agency, commonly referred to as ICE.
St. Cloud Times column writer Pia Lopez on Dec. 27 wrote an excellent column on immigration stating as early as 1842 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled states are not required to carry out duties of the national government. Lopez goes on to encourage all central Minnesota citizens to make our community a place of welcome for all our residents.
There are several reasons why ICE actions are harmful to area residents, such as: 1) Stop-and-frisk has been declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. 2) Such ICE activities send a chilling effect through minority communities. 3) Such ICE actions make it more difficult for all law-enforcement agencies to establish a trusting relationship with migrant/minority communities. 4) Such actions by ICE would strongly diminish the good results of the community responses to the Sept. 17 stabbing and shooting at the mall at Crossroads Shopping Center.
Let us citizens of central Minnesota contact President-elect Donald Trump informing him we do not wish any additional burdens be placed on our law-enforcement agencies and our minority communities. President-elect Donald Trump can be reached by phone at 646-736-1779 or trump@realdonaldtrump.
