America is at a crossroads. President Donald Trump’s administration is facing a wave of lawsuits and court injunctions in its efforts to solve major national problems. Chief among them is addressing the millions of immigrants who entered the United States illegally during President Joe Biden’s administration.
The aggressive legal opposition confronting the current administration raises a serious and troubling question: Why didn’t similar legal challenges arise during the deportation of more than 5 million immigrants in eight years under the Barack Obama administration? The difference isn’t in the law; it’s the target. The resistance from the opposing political party, the mainstream media, celebrities and pundits appears driven less in principle and more by deep hatred for Trump and his agenda.
Why does this opposition wish to retain immigrants in our country illegally over the security of American citizens?
The challenges our country now faces demand constitutional reform. While the Constitution remains the cornerstone of our liberty and greatness, it must be modernized through amendments that address today’s realities. We must clarify that due process rights apply only to United States citizens. The interpretation of birthright citizenship automatically applying to children born to noncitizens needs to be corrected, so that it, too, applies only to United States citizens.
Further, if term limits are appropriate for presidents, they should also apply to members of Congress, many of whom have spent decades in office, enriching themselves. Failure to act is not an option, and failing to address these problems is a recipe for disaster.
It’s time for voters and lawmakers to act decisively, as the future of our country is at stake.
— Al Zvinakis, Lemont
14th Amendment a target
I am at a loss to understand why the current administration is working hard via the Supreme Court to restrict the 14th Amendment’s stand on birthright citizenship. President Donald Trump’s regime consistently ignores other parts of the Constitution, especially the First and Fifth amendments, and now the Emoluments Clause in Article I. The regime has no fear of a Congress led by feckless Republicans and a bench that has no enforcement authority.
Why the 14th Amendment? Can their hatred of foreigners really be that significant?
— Len Woelfel, Oswego
Republicans’ hypocrisy
I was pleased to hear that Illinois state Senate Republican leader John Curran called out Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for exploiting a local murder case when she was in Springfield. Curran said it was wrong to use a case like that to make her point about deporting immigrants. The suspect was a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, better known as DACA.
Interestingly, Barack Obama as president would not have had to issue a DACA executive order if Congress had done its job.
And yet, Republicans at all levels of government are calling actions by local leaders of sanctuary cities and states “unconstitutional.” If these actions were so unconstitutional, why is the Trump administration just now suing Illinois? The Illinois act governing this policy was passed during Trump’s first term and signed by a Republican governor.
No one in the Republican Party has the right to call any action unconstitutional until they get their own house in order. Congressional Republicans have done nothing to stop their legally passed budget appropriations from being cut to shreds. These were cut by a man, Elon Musk, who was not even elected. They have also done nothing about immigration since 1986. They had a bipartisan bill that almost passed, but Trump, not yet president, ordered them to kill it.
The Republican-led Congress has shirked its mandated duties of managing expenses and immigration, both spelled out quite clearly in the Constitution.
Their hypocrisy is historic. They need more leaders like Curran.
— Jan Goldberg, Riverside
We don’t need a dictator
For several weeks now, I have been reading news reports about supporters of President Donald Trump pleading that individual judges should not have the power to block what Trump wants to do. There’s another issue here. This is a country of over 300 million people. What gives one man the right to determine every facet of our lives? Please do not tell me that’s why Americans voted for Trump.
In the first place, it’s not true. Less than half the voters in the 2024 presidential election voted for him. Even the ones who voted for him didn’t ask to have him run their lives, though they might not realize it’s happening.
The judges are backed up by the Constitution and laws. I must have missed the part of the Constitution that says the president runs everything.
One of the newest examples is Trump telling the baseball commissioner that Pete Rose should be reinstated. We can debate it. What business is it of Trump’s?
I don’t need a dictator running the country. Who does? Are we or are we not capable of making our own decisions? Why did we waste our time voting for representatives to debate and make policies?
— Laurence Siegel, Manteno
Republicans, take a stand
As a grandparent, I urge Congress to put on their adult pants and reject the Republican plans to cut billions of dollars from our country’s Medicaid health care program.
Those of us with enough resources must support those neighbors who don’t have enough. Medicaid helps children, seniors and those with disabilities.
— Toni Rey, Evanston
Concerns about Medicaid
As a nurse for almost 47 years, I am concerned about the proposed cuts to Medicaid. Having worked in the emergency department for 30 years, I saw the ED used as a primary source of health care, causing delays in the ED. Also, those without health insurance do not receive the benefit of continuity of care as they would with a primary care provider.
Patients with chronic conditions, without Medicaid, would not receive the proper care, impacting their quality of life.
It is my opinion that able-bodied people should be mandated to work if they are seeking Medicaid benefits. Medicaid is meant to provide assistance to those in need, not to be a way of life.
— Patricia Bonk, Midlothian
Recently, I met a Ukrainian man who saw the Ukrainian flag flying over my home in support of his homeland’s fight to preserve its sovereignty.
We spoke for several minutes. I learned that in Odessa, he designed large commercial buildings, and no longer feeling safe, he immigrated to America with his wife and children. They knew no English when they arrived but studied and became proficient in our language.
Today, he is preparing to obtain certification of his architectural competence so that he can design buildings here. If peace and security ever return to his homeland, the rebuilding of Ukrainian cities will require dozens of architects like him. Until then, he is working hard to support his immigrant American family by making deliveries for a Fort Lauderdale florist.
Security for Ukrainians will depend upon NATO members, especially the U.S., increasing their delivery of lethal weaponry to enhance Ukraine’s armed forces capability of causing mortal damage to Russia’s armies and cities. The Ukrainian government is our friend, and Russia’s is not. President Donald Trump must stop begging and soft-soaping Vladimir Putin and use our military might to force him to give up his designs upon Ukraine and its neighbors.
— David Kahn, Boca Raton, Florida
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