Trump’s plan to expand Guantanamo detention center won’t deter migration | Opinion
Questioning Gitmo
President Trump’s intent to expand Guantánamo Bay into a massive immigrant detention site is routinely pitched as a “deterrent” against more migration to the U.S. This so-called deterrent argument is not new. Since 1994, when former President Bill Clinton advanced “prevention through deterrence,” this framework has endured as the default bipartisan consensus to immigration policy-making.
While deterrence has been the norm for decades, it’s ultimately proven ineffective — and deadly. More than 8,000 people have died seeking entry since 1998, all the while annual apprehensions at the border have remained steady or risen year after year. When family detention, another supposed deterrent, was stopped in 2015, the number of families entering the U.S. remained the same.
The U.S. has historically detained migrants interdicted at sea — particularly those from Haiti — at Guantánamo, under hellish conditions. Its remote location is no accident; human rights organizations cannot monitor the “black box” of Guantánamo Bay, which is particularly troubling given ICE’s pattern of abuse.
Guantánamo’s expansion would only result in more human rights violations. This stain on U.S. history belongs squarely in the past. For those seeking safety or a better life, it’s past time we open humane pathways to relief.
Laura Hernandez,
Covina, CA
Brave act
My thanks to the Miami Herald for the April 3 front page article, “’Telling our history correctly,’” in which Professor Marvin Dunn teaches Black history under a tree at Florida International University. Dunn shows grace and courage where others in academia, law and government are surrendering to the autocratic oligarchy overtaking our nation.
Dunn serves as an example for all of us on how to resist the lies and how to try to salvage what is left of our democracy.
Phyllis Levy,
Miami
Tariffs then, now
Almost every Donald Trump supporter who is now in favor of tariffs only does so because Trump favors tariffs. Almost every one of them would change their mind about the value of tariffs if tomorrow Trump said tariffs are bad. Most of those who favor these tariffs were against similar tariffs in the 1980s, when the Democratic Party argued for them in order to keep production jobs in the U.S.
At that time, Ronald Reagan supporters dismissed these arguments, touting the value of global trade. There is, however, a big difference between now and the 1980s. Today, virtually no economists find Trump’s arguments on tariffs to be feasible. The arguments in the 1980s were about keeping jobs here. Today’s arguments are about bringing jobs back. The latter task is far more difficult.
Even if tariffs could bring jobs back, Americans likely wouldn’t be willing to pay the costs this requires over a decade or two before its effects would be felt.
Darrell P. Arnold,
Surfside
Action on tariffs
I phoned the office of my congresswoman, Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, to ask what she will do about President Trump tanking the economy and stock market after he announced crazy tariffs on America’s economic partners, even on an island inhabited only by penguins and seals.
I explained that my wife and I have lost a year’s retirement income even as we support my brother’s family because his home-remodeling clients have canceled. The congresswoman, I was told, is working on a statement.
I asked whether Salazar would please vote to rescind the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, through which Trump overrides congressional authority to regulate tariffs. Again, I was told, she is working on a statement.
I’ve read enough of her statements. We need her action, now.
Philip K. Stoddard,
South Miami
Changing lanes
Amid all the reports of long lines and appointment-selling at the DMV, no one mentions the availability of renewing online. Recently, I took advantage of this program. I received my new license within 10 days of applying.
Please take advantage of this offering and take the hassles away from this necessary chore.
Sol Yanowitz,
Miami
DeSantis’ agenda
As I understand it, elected officials are supposed to put their personal agendas aside and do what’s in the best interest of their constituents. A reduction in the state sales tax seems in the best interest of Floridians; the savings would affect all us.
Pretending that climate change isn’t real won’t make it go away; it’s a scientific fact, and all Floridians should be on board with working on solutions, as we will be gravely affected in the not-so-distant future.
However, the only thing seemingly on Gov. Ron DeSantis’ agenda is beating Democrats; no talk of discussion or working across the aisle. He just wants to “step on the left’s throat.” Recently, he got upset because there’s some push back on the “open carry” gun bill.
Who in their right mind thinks that is a good idea?
He also railed against State Rep. Hillary Cassel, a former Democrat turned Republican, who is championing insurance reform.
Don’t we all want insurance reform? My insurance bill is ridiculously high, how about yours?
How much does DeSantis care about Floridians when he asks his party “what are you doing to defeat the left this legislative session” instead of asking what they are doing to help the people of Florida?
Deborah V. Knapp,
Davie
One voice
Dr. Marvin Dunn, one of Florida’s most respected historians, continues to keep Black history alive despite local and federal government opposition. Last week he created a Black History Learning Tree at Florida International University’s south campus, where students and community members gathered to hear of the 1923 Rosewood Massacre and other lessons. Banned books were distributed, despite Gov. DeSantis’ efforts to squash our past.
As founder of the Miami Center for Racial Justice, we owe a debt of gratitude to Dunn for reminding us that if we are silent, we are complicit.
Ossie Hanauer,
Kendall
Retirement relief
President Trump does not hesitate to sign his name to anything he wants done. The exception, apparently, is Social Security. He keeps harping on “there will not be a problem” with Social Security and Medicare.
Why isn’t he signing to eliminate the tax on Social Security retirement checks?
Does he have any clue that his long-range plans to “Make America Great Again” are meaningless if retirees cannot afford to pay jacked up prices in stores, increased rents and costs for goods and services?
We need relief now, not in four years when we may not be here. We already paid taxes on every penny we earned. This is double taxation.
Marie D. Valenti,
South Miami
Truth decay
I lived during the era of no fluoride in our tap water. Believe me, we had a lot more cavities.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Levine Cava, please veto the county commission’s vote to end fluoride in the water. I’m with you.
Carole Hamilton,
Miami Springs
What retirement?
When President Trump called April 2 “Liberation Day,” in which he announced sweeping tariffs, I didn’t realize he meant he was liberating us from our 401(k)s.
Joe Smariga,
Fort Lauderdale
Legislative ‘success’
State representatives acting on behalf of Miami residents find no shame to declare their first five weeks in session a “success.”
So, lowering the age from 21 to 18 to purchase a long gun/rifle is a “success?” Allowing insurers to shift millions of dollars to their executives, shareholders and out-of-state operations all while claiming to be losing money is a “success?”
Laying blame on condo unit owners in the form of huge assessments, because of decades of failure by local and state government to insist on structural inspections is a “success?” For Florida legislators to be indifferent to the huge amounts to be assessed on unit owners without regard to helping them keep their property is a “success?”
Which should beg another question: Are Tallahassee legislators that dumb or that arrogant to believe the majority of their constituents won’t hold them responsible for “gross negligence” in failing for decades, to insist on condo building inspections and fully funded reserves?
Joanne Tomarchio,
Miami