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By Mary Miller

Guest Contributor

It saddens me greatly that the Trump team has chosen to demonize migrants. The rhetoric of Vance and Trump is increasing hostility among many in our country.

I have often said that all the crimes and other atrocities “Americans” have committed in this country should have led to the deportation of all of us.

We, along with many other countries, have a  migration problem, and we do need to thoughtfully deal with the problem. However, we also need to realize that in many places in the world, people flee in desperation because of wars, drug cartels, starvation, intolerable governments,  and climate change. Of course, there are some exceptions, and we can’t deny that there is a small percentage of criminals. They are the minority, however.  

I have the privilege of knowing many immigrants— some who are here because they have helped our military in their countries. My life is enriched because of their kindness, work ethic, and appreciation for our country.

My friends are citizens now or are working to gain citizenship, but to many in our country, there is no distinction between those who have come here legally and those who might be “illegal.”

Springfield invited Haitians to their city to increase the workforce to encourage new industry. Because of the number who came, there have been problems as there are in any city in which population growth exceeds infrastructure. To spread lies about them and encourage hostility does not solve the problem, and it has magnified any challenges the city was facing and making Haitians feel unsafe and their lives threatened.

Why do we always have to have scapegoats?