1. United States
2. Letter

Your recent comments about Somali immigrants were profoundly disturbing. Calling any group of people “garbage” or claiming that they “contribute nothing” is inaccurate, offensive, and dangerous. Somali Americans are part of our workforce, our military, our schools, and our communities. They pay taxes, start businesses, raise families, and help build this country in the same way as every other group that arrived before them. Speaking about any community as if its members are a burden lowers the standard of public discourse and undermines the dignity owed to every person who lives here. It doesn’t make America stronger. It doesn’t solve immigration challenges. It only inflames fear and resentment. I implore you to stop using language that dehumanizes entire groups of people. Speak to problems with clarity and honesty, and without stripping human beings of their worth. We can debate policy without attacking people. Our country needs leadership that elevates us rather than divides us.