to the editor: By threatening the Insurrection Act against people protesting ICE, President Trump isn't actually trying to protect his agents (“Trump threatens to use the Insurrection Act again. Could he follow through?” January 15). He is trying to curb freedom of expression that he considers threatening.
Time and time again, Trump has acted out of fear: fear of outsiders with his anti-immigration policies and his absurd threat to seize Greenland because “we need it for national security.” Fear of his own people with his cuts to benefits, especially for states that don't toe his line, and threats of elections that could put people other than him in power. He even fears members of his own party, whom he threatens when they do not behave as he wants.
This is the behavior of a bully: someone who, out of fear, attacks those who cannot easily defend themselves. Worse still, in a supposed world leader, it is also the behavior of a dictator.
Katie Waitman, Los Angeles
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to the editor: I have a few questions: If the Department of Homeland Security's goal is to detain, process, and deport undocumented immigrants who have committed serious crimes, do they have a list of suspects? If not, how do they know that there are thousands of immigrants committing crimes? If you have a list, can you use your powerful investigative tools to discover the location of these perpetrators? They could then attack these individuals and arrest them. There would be no need to storm neighborhoods and pull random people out of their cars, off sidewalks, or out of Home Depot parking lots.
I believe that if ICE truly pursued the goal of apprehending, detaining, and removing “the worst of the worst,” it would have the support of the American public. Given ICE's current tactics, I don't think people can be blamed for resisting, protesting, and trying to protect their neighbors. I believe Americans want justice, order and peace in our communities, not masked marauders disturbing the peace and inciting anger and fear.
If our federal government continues down this path, we can only expect things to get worse.
Laurie Jacobs, San Clemente
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to the editor: Why does Trump want to protect protesters in Iran, but threaten protesters in his own country with the Insurrection Act?
The easiest way to stop the protests here would be to remove ICE from our cities. How can you not see the obvious connection between ICE and the protests, and the similarity of the protests here and in Iran?
Barbara Strout, Whittier
