Are you a criminal? Do you ever speed more than 25 mph over the limit? That’s a misdemeanor. Have you ever earned money and not reported it on your taxes? Tax fraud. You could go to jail. Text and drive? Class A misdemeanor. Ever drink and drive? A misdemeanor and scandalous. Ever walk on someone’s private property? That’s illegal trespassing with penalties. No lights on your bike at night? Literally a crime. Have you ever tweaked the truth on an insurance claim to get a bigger check? That’s insurance fraud! Ever drive with an expired license or plate? Criminal action, my friend. Ever share prescription medicine? Illegal distribution! I could go on and on.

Point is, we have all violated the letter of law. And by that standard, technically, we are all criminals. But so many people are quick to judge immigrants as criminals who came into the U.S. unlawfully, and people say they deserve what’s coming to them. Did you know their horrible crime is only a misdemeanor? Just like jaywalking or going 26 mph over the speed limit.

Immigrants came here to have freedom and a better life, to work and to leave a depressed area — just like most of our grandparents. Do they deserve to be racially profiled, detained, arrested, treated like animals and then sent to another country, unable to be found? That’s just insane. All for a misdemeanor?

If federal law enforcement arrested you for the very same level of crime, how fair do you think that would be? Let that soak in.

Let’s secure the border. It’s been a mess for years. And we all agree we should send “real” criminals away. But it’s not the mom with three kids at a birthday party or the grandpa buying groceries or the lawn guy at work. These are people who made a tough decision years ago and have lived a good life, are law-abiding, pay taxes and help the economy.

Do you think maybe we can have a little bit more compassion and less judgment? Remember, it was the Pharisees who were judgmental (and hypocritical) about the “letter of the law.” And it was Christ who was loving, understanding, forgiving and showed mercy and grace.

Which one are you? It’s never too late to do the right thing.

— Rocky Ruggiero, Lisle

Keep distinction clear

No one should dispute the distinction between criminals and law-abiding citizens. Arresting and incarcerating criminals is how we help keep society functioning. Similarly, there is a real and meaningful distinction between legal and illegal immigration. Legal immigrants have been given the right to enter and remain in our country. Immigrants who entered illegally have not.

If a legal immigrant is detained or deported, a great injustice has been committed, but if an immigrant here illegally is detained and deported, it is reasonable and in fact necessary for a nation’s sovereignty.

Too many news and opinion articles ignore the difference between these two very different groups of immigrants and appear to equate the legitimate detention and deportation of those who are here illegally with being anti-immigrant.

Truth demands that the lines, which are clear, not be blurred for the advancement of political agendas.

— David Howard, Rockford

Justifying brute force

In his Oct. 17 letter (“Entering US illegally”), David N. Simon accuses columnist Heidi Stevens of being wrong on the law. In fact, she is correct. Entering the U.S. without authorization is a different offense from simply being undocumented. The U.S. Code references cited by Simon do not contradict what Stevens said.

More important, so what? The overwhelming majority of these folks are not harming anyone and, in fact, contribute to our society and our economy by working and paying taxes. We’re spending an inordinate amount of money tracking down, abusing and deporting folks who are not threats to public safety whatsoever — and I remind Simon and those of his ilk that public safety is the repeated justification for the excessive force and brutality committed by federal agents on a daily basis. Even adopting Simon’s view, we’re talking about people guilty of nonviolent misdemeanors!

In stark contrast, those who participated in the Jan. 6 insurrection helped cause the loss of human life — yet they were given clemency by a president who claims he is about law and order, but whose actions clearly demonstrate otherwise.

As Jesus once said: “Let he who is without blame cast the first stone.”

— Paul N. Eichwedel, Chicago

The immigrant crisis

Thank you for the informative article “Distrust and anger deepen after raid” on the Oct. 19 front page. This part of the lengthy article was particularly interesting: “The ones most well-versed in the recent history wondered how it made sense for (Greg) Abbott to send busloads of migrants to Chicago and for those migrants to wind up in inhospitable places throughout the city, only for the federal government to come for them. And now Abbott, too, has supported the Texas National Guard’s deployment to Illinois.”

The explanation is one thing that leads to the next. Texas and other border states were suffering from illegal immigration. Illinois and Northeastern states were not sympathetic to Texas’ situation. Texas Gov. Abbott, not my favorite, decided to share the pain and teach a lesson by sending busloads to Chicago and the Northeast. President Donald Trump continued his anti-immigration campaign and won the election in 2024. Sadly, he is cruelly delivering on what he promised. Of course Abbott is supportive and willing to send the Texas National Guard. In the lead-up to the 2024 election, the Democrats were at least two years too late in tightening the border.

Would it make sense to tighten the border against illegal immigration and have a legal immigration policy that meets the needs of the country? Presently, we have the former but not the later.

— Ed Lawlor, Chicago

Trump acts like a king

My father served in the infantry in World War I. He was marching to the front when the armistice was declared. Otherwise, I might not be here. My bother served in the infantry as a machine gunner during the Battle of the Bulge. He was only slightly wounded and lucky. The spirit of patriotism from WWI and WWII is in my blood and bones. I sometimes quietly shed tears of gratitude during the playing of the national anthem.

On Saturday, my wife and I arrived at a busy intersection in our suburb. We stood with a hundred others, divided on four corners. All were in good spirits and friendship, waving signs and chanting  Many drivers going by on the two very busy streets beeped, waved arms out windows and gave thumbs-up. (Only two out of hundreds gave a thumbs-down.)

Within five minutes, I suddenly found myself about to cry. I was so moved! Here was the spirit of democracy! People standing up for democracy. The democracy that so many gave up their lives and limbs for. We care! We still very much care.

As I write, I am again close to tears. Aren’t you? Imagine all who sacrificed so much, for us. Inspiring.

Then I learned that the president had posted on his Truth Social site an artificial intelligence-generated video. In it, he is in a jet, with “King Trump” on its side, and he flies over protesters and drops what appears to be feces on them. Symbolically dropping feces on the half of Americans who oppose him. Imagine? How vile and violent, even as a video? The president is supported by his administration’s “yes, sir” people and the leaders of the Republican Party. They acquiesce to his whims without protest.

It is actually unbelievable to me that we now have such a president and political party. Such a disgrace of the presidency and party. The king and his loyal royalty.

— The Rev. Robert W. Jais, Oakbrook Terrace

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/22/letters-102225-immigrants/