America’s broken promise

The report February 5, “At least 138 sent from U.S. to El Salvador were killed” highlights some of the consequences of our current border policy. This isn’t about walls or border patrol agents. This isn’t about checking for papers at our own Intermodal Center.

This is about ensuring that those who legally present at the border for asylum are treated with respect, that their claims are taken seriously, and that we follow standards of human rights. Fearing gang violence and not political or religious persecution needs to inform our immigration policy because it better reflects the state of the world.

The news from El Salvador doesn’t surprise me, but to be true to America’s promise we must have a better immigration policy than widespread deportations into violent places and the so-called Migrant Protection Protocols (also known as “Remain in Mexico”) that are about anything but the protection of migrants.

Ellen M. Maccarone

Spokane