Dear Senators:

Most Americans are not Native Americans. Most of us came from other nations as free men and women, as slaves or as indentured servants (a second form of slavery). Most of our ancestors, unless we were white Anglo-Saxon Protestants, faced discrimination in job, places to live, rights, etc.

Experts agree the US immigration system needs reform but say this Laken Riley Bill, to be today and possibly voted on tonight, is a poorly written bill that will cause most significant concern and stress among immigrants, our communities and cost tens or hundreds of billions of dollars to accomplish deportations, economic loss to employers, higher inflation for all. It will cause very significant despair for broken up families, anger, hate, etc.

Yes, our immigration system has many problems but this bill does not resolve the basic problems. If this bill becomes law, it will cause great confusion and billions of dollars in federal, state and local government expenses.

It is a vindictive, hateful, poorly written bill once enacted into law, along with the deportation plans in Mr. Trumps executive orders to be signed on Day 1, will create within a month or so a tremendous citizen and voter backlash. That backlash will develop in the next two years and voters will seek justice in the Nov. 2026 elections. Many House or Senate Democrats who vote for this bill will find themselves primaried and some will lose.

In the implementation of Mr. Trump's executive orders, we are likely to see protests, marches and civil disobedience actions. Some likely violent giving Pres. Trump an excuse to call out the military to patrol our communities. Many will say, "Oh, my what have we done to ourselves, how did this all ever happen."

And Democrats and Republicans will point to the signers of the Laken Riley law and say, "Those are the fools who approved this law. Throw them all out!"

Thus senators, it is better to set aside the poorly drafted Laken Riley bill, appoint a Senate committee to draft a real reform of our immigration laws, conduct hearings in Congress and in various parts of the USA, finalize something that makes sense and which will have public support and NOT cause civil disturbances in communities across America.

As citizens we urge you to read the NY Time editorial of 1-1-25 "A Big Idea to Solve America's Immigration Mess" "...The United States undoubtedly needs to establish control over immigration, and we describe below the necessary changes. But mass deportations, or reductions in future immigration, are not in the national interest. ..."

I thank you in advance for responding to my letter.