Minneapolis deaths, Catholic cardinals on U.S. policies

Different views on two fatal shootings

While the shooting deaths of a woman and a man in Minneapolis by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents are truly tragic, and in both situations the agents badly overreacted, the victims would be alive today had they not interfered in law enforcement activity [“Reactions to Minnesota shootings,” Letters, Jan. 29].

It amazes me that those who are so outraged at these shootings and ICE law enforcement, and then react with protests, organized efforts to alert undocumented immigrants, and in some cases interfere with this activity, have shown little reaction to the countless Americans who have been victims of violent murders, rapes, assaults, and sexual abuse against children by immigrants who entered our country illegally.

Yes, let’s remember and pray for the two people killed in Minneapolis as well as their families. But please, let’s also remember and show similar outrage for the victims and their families of the many horrific crimes committed against them by immigrants who never should have been allowed to enter our country.

— Peter Dooley, Massapequa

I believe there is wide agreement that people with a history of violent crimes who entered this country illegally should be deported, and general agreement on many of the important issues we face as a nation.

The disconnect has more to do with tactics than issues. The administration’s tactics are, in fact, related to the issues they decry, but those tactics often are deplorable and create havoc while not yielding the desired results.

Surely, most Americans agree that we need to control our borders, eliminate violent criminals who are here without legal permission, stop drug trafficking, eliminate foreign trade barriers that give foreign governments an unfair advantage, and agree on many other issues. The tactics are the main source of disagreement.

When the residents of Minneapolis protest ICE’s actions, the administration argues that the protesters don’t want to see the violent criminals who entered this country illegally deported. This argument conflates the issue with the tactics. Protesters are objecting to the tactics and have plenty of justification.

— Mark Bogin, Baldwin

The two fatal shootings in Minneapolis, while tragic, were precipitated by the actions of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. In both incidents, they were interfering in a law enforcement investigation or arrest.

Pretti was filmed at a prior incident kicking out the taillight of a law enforcement vehicle while armed with a legal handgun. In the fatal incident, he tried to stop Border Patrol agents from making an arrest, a crime, and then resisted arrest, a crime, while armed with a legal handgun.

Both individuals put themselves in situations that offered little chance of de-escalation, and tragedy ensued.

Peaceful demonstration is guaranteed in the Constitution, but too many people are crossing the line into criminal behavior, encouraged by irresponsible rhetoric coming from elected leaders.

— Tim Marinace, Massapequa

People are so willing to jump the gun and characterize those who died as such “upstanding” and innocent citizens.

A new video shows Alex Pretti kicking out an ICE vehicle taillight. Would any of these letter writers have been OK with him doing it to their car? Or if a supporter of President Donald Trump did this to a Democrat’s car?

There are ways to go about protesting, but in these cases Renee Good and Pretti put themselves in situations that increased their odds of what became their fate.

— Anthony Perri, Manorville

Cardinals are myopic over U.S. policies

Three ranking U.S. Catholic cardinals are concerned about U.S. policies relating to the nation’s status as a global moral compass [“LI Catholics mixed over cardinals’ concern for U.S. moral compass,” News, Jan. 20]. They questioned the actions of President Donald Trump in Venezuela, have been unnerved by his statements about Greenland, and seem to be upset with the administration’s handling of the illegal immigration situation.

The heads of my church again are taking a myopic view of our foreign and domestic policies. They seem to forget the lives saved around the globe by Trump’s ending several wars as well as the innocent Venezuelans who would have died at the hands of narco-terrorist Nicolás Maduro, the ousted Venezuelan president.

These heads avoid discussing the positive effects of preventing drugs from entering our country. I would like to hear them condemn a policy of allowing unfettered migration, some of which resulted in the deaths of Americans.

I must have missed their condemnation of the murders by Muslim fanatics in Iran and Israel, by communist dictators, and by those politicians who allowed the abortions of millions of potential humans.

They should either condemn all immoral acts or condemn none.

— Anthony Bruno, Smithtown