Letters

Americans want a secure border, resources for border officers, a better asylum system, and a path to citizenship for those who deserve it. Bipartisan senators worked for years toward mutually acceptable reforms. This was not easily accomplished, but their compromise bill was tough and fair and found support in Congress.

The bill would increase border technology to detect fentanyl. Give the president the authority to impose sanctions on governments and people involved in trafficking drugs. Provide more than $1.4 billion to fund services for immigration and expedited work permitting for qualified people already in the country.

The border security budget would increase by $20 billion to fund more border agents, detention beds and deportation flights. Judicial resources would increase for faster screening and processing of asylum claims. A permanent path to citizenship for workers and permanent protection from deportation for DACA recipients were included.

Legislators on both sides of the aisle were in favor of the bill, not because it had everything they wanted but because it went a long way to addressing border problems. It was on its way to becoming law.

But MAGA master Donald Trump demanded that Republicans walk away from the bill. And they did.

Nick LaLota kissed the ring as the first member of the New York delegation to endorse Donald Trump, and, following his master’s plan, now spews MAGA fear-mongering and endless complaints about crime and chaos at the border. Like children who kill their parents and complain about being orphans, Nick and his MAGA cronies killed the bill and now complain about its absence.

Nick constantly repeats Fox tropes of undocumented crime sprees but offers no evidence to support his claim. In fact, very few states compile crime statistics involving undocumented people, and the one state that does, Texas, found that crime by undocumented people is 45 percent below that of natural-born citizens. Nationally, all crime rates are down — murder rates by 26.4 percent, rape by 25.7 percent, robbery by 17.8 percent, and property crimes by 15.1 percent.

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy reported in 2022 that undocumented workers paid $96.7 billion in taxes at the federal, state and local levels. Approximately one-third was used to support social services for American citizens but by law was not available to undocumented workers, making them net economic contributors to our nation.

MAGA Republicans killed our best chance to secure the border, correct the asylum system, support border agents, and provide a path to citizenship. The bill if enacted would have helped New York State by adding millions to our budget.

I am voting for John Avlon, a problem-solver who will find solutions, cross the aisle and get things done.

Jackie Hilly

Sag Harbor

Hilly is secretary of the Southampton Democratic Committee — Ed.