Immigration debate requires calm voices

The authoritarian changes under President Trump have reopened the debate over immigration policy.

His abuses of the rule of law and disregard for the Constitution are abhorrent and intolerable, solely motivated by political convenience and ignoring our immigrant origins.

In response, a remnant of resistance from Trump’s first term has resurfaced: the concept of abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which would simply pass its responsibilities to another agency, which will then face the same resistance.

According to a 2018 Politico poll, 25% of the American people support abolition, while more than half oppose it.

The issue of immigration is too complex to simplify into one convenient hashtag and deserves a comprehensive, interdependent strategy of a) reforming the residency process and citizenship requirements, b) ensuring protection from potential threats and criminal activity, and c) seeking protection of freedoms from corruption abroad.

Civilized conversation is essential, and the vitriol doesn’t help.

— Brendan Krepchin Mountain View

It is time to act in defense of democracy

Actions work better than doom scrolling.

There are so many ways for each of us to take a stand against the current tyrannical shenanigans: Avoid corporations and instead support local businesses.

Starve the fossil fuel funders of corruption by biking or waking instead of driving and by vacationing closer to home. Donate to pro-democracy organizations and volunteer for campaigns. Contact our reps, speak up, go to protests, and share our ideas for action with friends and family.

For all of us who have taken democracy for granted for far too long, now is the time to act.

— Rachel Goldeen Mountain View

Draconian cuts should cost Republicans sleep

Re: “House narrowly passes budget” (Page A1, Feb. 26).

How can the Republicans sleep at night after voting for a budget resolution that could lead to deep cuts in food programs for the poor and for Medicaid, which provides health care for 70 million Americans.

Funding almost more than 40% of all births in the nation and more than half of the spending on long-term care, Medicaid is critical to the lives of low-income and vulnerable Americans.

And to make matters worse, these cuts are to give tax breaks to wealthy Americans.

— Rosemary Everett Campbell

Juvenile justice reform is key to saving youths

Too many young lives are lost to a system that punishes rather than heals.

Instead of offering guidance, we lock up children, ignoring the trauma that led them there.

Restorative justice offers hope, allowing youth to repair harm while learning accountability. It’s time to stop criminalizing our youth and start investing in their futures.

As a former youth commissioner for the Santa Cruz County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission, and as a formerly incarcerated person, I’ve witnessed the lack of support for youth, especially in Santa Cruz County, where Black and Brown youth are overrepresented in the juvenile justice system.

All counties face this systemic problem.

People need to become informed in order to care and create change. Therefore, addressing the systemic challenges within the juvenile justice system is essential to inspire action and reform.

— Kalia Vasquez Capitola