Mr. Emmanuel Olawale’s commentary on immigrants in the Nov. 15 edition was spot-on (”Immigrants are part of America’s strength, economic resilience and cultural richness”). Too many people demonizing the migrants have never engaged with any of them. Having worked at the southwest border with hundreds of migrants, I can assure you that the vast majority of them have three things in common: 1) Because there is no practical legal path for them to enter the country, they present themselves to border guards shortly after crossing to start the asylum process — they want to follow the law; 2) They would rather be in their home communities, but persecution in the form of beatings, rapes, extortion and threats of death by corrupt governments and cartels have driven them out; and 3) If given the opportunity, they will work hard at jobs many Americans won’t do.
The truth is, we need these people, and they need us. Courageous leaders could find a solution instead using them for political gain.
Steve Sozio,
Bay Village