You think asylum-seekers cause problems in Texas? No, they can’t afford to stay here | Opinion
Reality of Texas, immigrants
I live in El Paso, and illegal immigration is not an issue here. El Paso’s port of entry has processed millions of asylum seekers. I can tell you firsthand that almost all, once paroled, leave the state. The first thing they tell you is that would rather not stay in a state with a $7.25 minimum wage when others start at $15 an hour.
Texas has thousands of homeless people, but asylum-seekers like to work and live in a home, not on the streets.
- Reynaldo Alvara, El Paso
It’s about the crime, not status
Reporter Cody Copeland correctly quotes Rep. Roger Williams about the “invasion” coming across our southern border but tries to discount the impact by dismissing anecdotal evidence the congressman and Sheriff Bill Waybourn offer. (Jan. 24, 1A, “Congressman cites anecdotal data to support border bill”) Copeland goes to a so-called expert in Wisconsin for a study that supposedly contradicts Williams and Waybourn. Wisconsin? Many universities in Texas have experts on the border.
Also, no one cares whether the crimes committed by people here illegally are proportionate to those done by legal residents. If one person dies as a result of illegal immigration — whether from fentanyl or direct violence — it’s too many. And that doesn’t include other relevant criminal activity. If the perpetrator is not here illegally, those crimes don’t happen.
- Mark Carter, Benbrook
Scapegoat to create trouble
President Joe Biden hasn’t been conducting any “illegal effort to aid the foreign invasion of America,” in the words of Nicole Russell. (Jan. 25, 10A, “Supreme Court just made Texas’ border problem worse”) In fact, Democrats have sought Republican input and approval on border legislation at least twice. The Republicans have refused to participate, effectively stalling any effective new border policy.
Russell’s inelegant hyperbole only serves to fan the flames of discord, which even Gov. Greg Abbott’s sputtering can’t extinguish. Abbott’s efforts have an eerily obvious dynamic, one bent on bringing the federal and state governments to an intractable impasse — or perhaps a head-on collision.
Please don’t add to this problem.
- Leslie Miner, Grapevine
No sympathy over execution method
I find it hard to believe the Fort Worth Star-Telegram gave the story of a convicted murderer and hitman with concerns about the method of his execution a public forum. (Jan. 22, 8A, “Inmate fights execution by nitrogen gas”) Although he initially chose to be executed via nitrogen hypoxia execution, he then claimed that method is unconstitutional.
I wonder if he gave his victims the courtesy of choosing the method for their execution.
- Bob Pavelko, Arlington
We Confederates are heroes
This newspaper’s and Bud Kennedy’s prejudice against anything related to the Confederacy was truly shown with not just one but two letters Jan. 19 labeling us Confederates as “enslavers” and “big losers.” (13A)
My ancestors did not fight Lincoln’s invaders on behalf of slavery. Secession was about slavery, but Abraham Lincoln called up troops to start a war. My two Confederate ancestor soldiers fought for home and hearth. Historian Shelby Foote documented a Yankee asking a Confederate soldier why he was fighting, and the soldier exclaimed, “Because you’re here.”
Confederates bled, too. They are heroes. We know we lost the war, but we did not lose our dignity, honor or heritage.
- Bob Templeton, Azle
