1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am writing because I, like many other Americans, am beyond disturbed by the EO signed by Trump, ordering Guantanamo Bay to prepare to detain 30k immigrants. Trump has no regard for these people as human beings, and he said himself that they were animals, and that bad genes were entering our country. This is no solution, it’s just cruel. The U.S. needs to reflect on our major role in this crisis. It is too often that our southern neighbors are the scapegoat for, well, ALL of our problems. From my understanding, we smuggle a great deal of lethal weapons across the border. We undermine their safety at home, lure them here with “wide open border” claims, make them work low wage jobs, spread horrific lies about them, and blame them for our homegrown issues. Now we parade them around in literal chains on their way to a concentration camp. I question the criteria that defines “criminal". Their hard work is the reason many of us can eat and have roofs over our heads. The idea that they do not contribute is a lie, as we all know, but it is clear that many Americans bought that story. Deporting undocumented immigrants who have committed crime is one thing, and no one is suggesting that we keep violent criminals here (despite what MAGA tells themselves and each other). We just want real solutions to the very real problems that we face, that do not include racial profiling and punishment of innocent people. It is utterly sickening to see the news of American citizens being detained because they were speaking Spanish, and our indigenous communities facing threats to their citizenship. Their lineage traces back to this land well beyond ours, yet we continue to disrespect them. There is no justice in needless cruelty or instilling fear in the very people this government is supposed to serve. Fellow American: "My partner is a birthright citizen of Mexican/Indigenous descent living in Texas. I cry just about every time we Facetime each other now because I do NOT trust that he is safe. He’s now a target because of the color of his skin, thanks to our President emboldening white supremacists and condoning violence." I do wonder how much this will escalate, because history tends to repeat itself. I am very much struggling to see what is so great about this place, but if I had to choose one thing, it would be the people like me. Those who hold onto their morals even when it isn’t convenient, who stand up for doing the right thing, who call others out for being unjust, who exercise their right to freedom of speech despite being governed by an administration motivated by revenge. Each day, I read the most absurd head line I have ever seen in my life, and each morning when I wake up I wonder if I was dreaming. I stand for all Americans when I write to you, and it's time for our elected representatives to determine where their loyalty lies with their vote. Please urge your colleagues to fight for US, the people, because the Constitution applies to everyone here.