To the editor:
I am writing in response to several letters to the editor regarding the protests of ICE. In particular, I would like to address the comment that concerned that there were no protests against ICE enforcement during Obama’s administration and asking why we are protesting now. The answer is that we are protesting the tactics now employed by ICE. The concept of sending troops of heavily armed, masked (why are they hiding their identities), illtrained individuals into city streets to hunt down criminals is reminiscent of Nazi Germany, not American democracy. I do not want criminal, illegal immigrants here either, but I do want immigrants who help harvest my orchard and wait on me at local restaurants during the busy tourist season. The hordes of ICE agents roaming city streets is not only intimidating legal immigrants but is a terribly expensive and an inefficient way to hunt criminals. The FBI using investigative procedures and targeted raids is the most efficient and direct way to track down criminals and illegal immigrants. That is the big difference between Obama era ICE and today’s version of ICE and that, I believe, is at the heart of the demonstrations. And no, those who protest are not supporting drug and trafficking of humans, or any other criminal activity.
Dan Inman Northport
