I think your questions cut to the heart of the issue. Border policies and immigration laws are very complicated and difficult to enforce. I can appreciate that more resources are being directed to border security and organizations like Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but as my letter states, I am skeptical about the efficiency and effectiveness of that spending as well as the potential harms (in combination with bills like SB72 & SB58) it could cause to Missouri and nation.
I agree that criminal behavior warrants a due process of justice. My opinion is that undocumented and/or illegal immigrants with documented evidence of criminal behavior in addition to an illegal border crossing should be prioritized for deportation after they are lawfully processed through our justice system. We may disagree on the course of action for people present in the country illegally but without evidence of other criminal behavior.
My education and experience suggests that the vast majority of people conform to laws and norms of societies and groups that treat them well while a small minority of people will display psychotic or criminal behavior regardless of how they are treated. People who have committed rape and murder should be convicted and imprisoned in our nation if not their own. I am concerned that the proportion of immigrants displaying criminal behaviors (other than an illegal border crossing) is being exaggerated for the sake of clicks/ad revenue and political power.
For example cop.gov reports thousands of arrests for criminal behavior among illegal immigrants (Criminal Alien Statistics | U.S. Customs and Border Protection) but it does not list these numbers as a fraction of the total or recently immigrated population of illegal immigrants (https://docs.house.gov/…/HHRG-119-JU01-20250122-SD004.pdf , https://www.nber.org/papers/w31440 , etc.) The Trump administration and supportive media outlets appear to be ignoring statistics inconvenient to their political narrative similar to how the Biden Administration downplayed or ignored problems related to a large influx of immigrants from 2020-2024.
Encouraging stereotypes and profiling without looking at the evidence for and against those assumptions sets a dangerous precedent for justice systems. The United States has a long history of civic engagement to vote out unaccountable leaders (e.g. Nixon) and reform corrupt systems (e.g. English Empire, Antebellum South, Jim Crowe). The Biden Administration proved itself incompetent when it refused to address the obvious mental decline of the President. I am concerned that the Trump Administration is proving itself incompetent through degrading the checks and balances of the legislature and judiciary.
The Trump Administration is rightfully seeking to end international wars and conflicts. But accelerating executive orders and unilateral executive actions designed to bypass or ignore the judicial and legislative branches of government is like playing with fire in a forest of kindling. From Bush to Obama to Biden to Trump – they all have increased the unilateral power of the executive branch while sinking the country deeper into debt. I am for reversing this trend and finding a reasonable middle ground on immigration. Monopolization of political and financial power is a recipe for corruption and tyranny.
The Federal Government is not best informed to handle local community issues. But the media narrative frequently focuses on our government’s inability to resolve our local problems. If I’m concerned about the character of my neighbors, I can go and talk to them. If I’m confident they are too dangerous to approach, I can call local law enforcement. But fearing, profiling, or stereotyping others for a $1,000 check or calling the federal government to arrest my neighbors -without accountability to local authorities- degrades the trust, power, and independence of our cities, towns, and communities.
I’m confident we could find more areas of agreement than disagreement on this topic. And I’m happy to discuss them in person. Have a great evening.
Deliberating Truth 