Readers React: Deporting Central American refugees makes our broken immigration system worse

To the editor: Even though violence, crime and intimidation in Central America motivate families to flee in fear for their lives, the U.S. plans to find and deport those who have made it to the U.S. but have been ordered by a judge to leave. (“Immigration officials plan stepped-up deportations for new year,” Dec. 24)

The current immigration system is unable to provide adequate due process and legal representation to those unable to navigate the system effectively. Detaining and deporting are unjust solutions to a broken system that disrupts family life and threatens deportees with violence in their homeland.

Your Christmas editorial cites Pope Francis in the “Nice” column for “reminding Americans of the importance of welcoming displaced people.” This is surely more just and humanitarian than deportation.

Lenore Navarro Dowling, Los Angeles

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To the editor: Hey, we have to start somewhere.

It certainly makes sense to send back those already ordered to leave. The only question is why it took so long. Plus, the Obama administration is showing that deporting those known to be in the country illegally can be done.

Until we just decide to throw open our borders, we have to do at least this. Kudos to the administration.

Imagine, though, what Donald Trump will do with this news: “I am right again!”

Jeffrey C. Briggs, Hollywood

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To the editor: I am greatly disturbed by plans from the Department of Homeland Security to deport immigrant families from Central America in a series of raids beginning early next year.

President Obama has long said that his administration’s priorities are to deport criminals from this country, many of whom represent threats to national security. In a time of limited resources, it does not make sense that this administration is going after families who are merely fleeing poverty, crime and political instability.

The current political climate might not make it possible to justify keeping all families in the U.S., but now is exactly the time when we need a president to stand up for the American values of hope and opportunity.

Obama has once again failed on immigration policy, and I hope our next president will not disappoint on this very important issue.

Christian Arana, Van Nuys

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