July 7, 2025 Editor, The News-Gazette: Two components of the just passed Big Beautiful Bill reflect the value choices of the current administration.
The bill makes deep cuts to social safety net programs. An estimated 17 million people will lose health insurance. Cuts to food assistance will impact three million people. The principal reason for these cuts is to provide a tax break for the richest Americans.
There is a second reason. It makes an additional $170 million dollars available for the administration’s immigration deportation focus. So this bill substitutes meeting the basic human needs of our citizens with the forced removal of immigrants, most of whom came here fleeing violence and poverty.
While the administration insists it is focusing on removing violent criminals, over half of those who have been detained have no criminal record and only an estimated 6% have been convicted of a felony. The focus is now on arresting as many immigrants as possible rather than targeting those with criminal records.
We increasingly see masked individuals, often in plain clothes, without name tags, refusing to identify themselves, aggressively forcing people to the ground and handcuffing them.
President Trump claims U.S. Marines deployed to Los Angeles and now to Florida are serving in “administrative capacities.” As a Marine second lieutenant, I learned the small unit tactics needed to lead a platoon into combat. I assure you that this training is not consistent with the type of restrained behavior best suited for their current mission. The idea of armed military on our streets is a frightening prospect.
I have never felt threatened by the presence of immigrants in our area. They are hardworking people who contribute to our community. I do not know or care about their immigration status.
Is this really how we want to spend our tax dollars? Where is our humanity? BILL BLATTER Rockbridge County
