Freeman letter: Refugees
The recent, unseemly outbreak of gubernatorial xenophobia does not reflect well on America, and betrays an ignorance of some basic facts. Not a single refugee — 1.2 million from the Middle East — has committed an act of terrorism in the U.S. since 2001, the years-long screening process is quite stringent already, and governors have no statutory authority in immigration matters anyway. Zip. Nada. Gov. Butch Otter is regarding this federal matter both morally bankrupt and fallaciously alarmist. We’re bigger than this. Refugees want to lead safe, productive lives; they yearn for the fruits of liberty. Bring them here.
Kenneth Freeman, Boise
This story was originally published November 21, 2015 at 12:25 AM with the headline "Freeman letter: Refugees."