In response to Dr. Hal Sobel’s letter 0f April 26, 2019, “Sanctuary cities are beacons of hope,” I offer the following quote from https://www.salon.com/2016/10/08/faith-in-ignorance-politicians-who-quote-the-bible-often-dont-know-anything-about-the-bible/ by Frances Flannery to address Dr. Sobel’s use of biblical quotes: “But generally politicians use the Bible as a bludgeon, as a hammer to make their point, while uncritically assuming their interpretation is the right one. That can be dangerous.”
As for the shameless treatment of children and families at the southern border by the Trump administration, may I refresh Dr. Sobel’s memory by quoting the following 2014 (please note, that Obama was President in 2014) article from, https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/immigration/2014/06/18/arizona-immigrant-children-holding-area-tour/10780449/ :
“NOGALES — They are fed and clothed, kept clean and cool, far better off than if they were walking through the desert in June temperatures.
They are undocumented. They entered the country illegally. And when they were apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, they were shipped to Nogales from overwhelmed processing facilities in Texas.
But they are still children in cages, not gangsters, not delinquents. Just children, 900 of them, in a makeshift border-town processing center that is larger than a football field. They pass the day sitting on benches or lying side by side on tiny blue mattresses pressed up against each other on nearly every square inch of the floor in the fenced areas.”
In regard to President Trump threatening to send those illegal immigrants who seek asylum in the US to sanctuary cities, how can Trump be punishing sanctuary cities, the beacons of hope which implies they are most welcoming, when he is giving them exactly what they claim to believe in and want? The best response exposing the hypocrisy of Democratic Socialists was provided be the entertainer Cher when she tweeted on April 14, 2019 the following: “I Understand Helping struggling Immigrants, but MY CITY (Los Angeles) ISNT TAKING CARE OF ITS OWN.WHAT ABOUT THE 50,000+Citizens WHO LIVE ON THE STREETS.PPL WHO LIVE BELOW POVERTY LINE,& HUNGRY? If My State Can’t Take Care of Its Own(Many Are VETS)How Can it Take Care Of More?”
Dr. Sobel would find the complete article by Víctor Manuel Ramos, victor.ramos@newsday.com @vmramos Updated August 20, 2016 very informative. But for brevity I will only quote the following: “In past years, many of the recently arrived children did not report to school until at or after the beginning of classes in late August or early September, so administrators have not known what to expect. Systems on the Island that have enrolled unaccompanied minors, in addition to Freeport, include Brentwood, Central Islip, Glen Cove, Hempstead, Huntington, Riverhead and Westbury, along with districts on the East End.”
In conclusion, I believe Dr. Sobel should carefully read the following quote from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Families, before mocking President Trump for showing real compassion to the memory and family of Kate Steinle:
“On Friday 22 June, 2018, Trump hosted an event at the White House for Angel Families during which 14 relatives held 11 photos of deceased relatives who had been killed by immigrants who were in the country illegally.[7] Among those attending the event were Laura Wilkerson, mother of Josh; Juan Piña, father of Christy Sue Piña; Steve Ronnebeck, father of Grant; and Michelle Root, mother of Sarah.[8][9]
Members of the families of more than three dozen different individuals killed by illegal immigrants have appeared at events with Trump over the years.”[9]
Walter J. Jaworski
New Hyde Park
