ABILENE, TX – Regarding “Texas GOP fires back at foes of vote rules,” (A1, April 6): I applaud Gov. Greg Abbott for his decision, although for different reasons than Abbott offers. Voting is as American as apple pie and baseball. Major League Baseball should not have its reputation sullied by the likes of Abbott, who supports measures that would suppress the rights of Black and Latino Americans to vote in Texas. The governor does not deserve the honor that would be bestowed to him by throwing out the Texas Rangers’ first pitch. The irony of it all is that Abbott’s party — the Republican Party, the Party of Lincoln — is in the process of enacting laws that would hurt descendants of the very slaves the Great Emancipator freed. So, in this instance, Abbott made the right call.
Regarding “Houston prepares to house hundreds of migrant children,” (A1, April 3): I continue to be disgusted by the daily reports of thousands of foreigners illegally crossing U.S. borders and being allowed to stay in the USA. I am a career airline pilot. I fly international routes weekly. It is very common to have onboard deportees or those who did not have a visa, required documentation or qualifications to enter another country being forced to return to the USA. I am at a loss to understand why the USA cannot apply the law of the land to enforce immigration laws as other countries routinely do.
I am required to pass through immigration and customs upon each return to the USA. I am a U.S. citizen with a U.S. passport, born, raised and lived in the U.S. my entire life. For over four decades I have respected this process, and the Department of Homeland Security officers are pleasant and professional.
But frankly it is still an inconvenience to have to take the extra time and effort, often after a 10-plus hour all-night flight to navigate this process. But when foreigners with no respect for the law of the land in the USA are allowed to enter our country illegally, and then be welcomed, protected and housed by taxpayers, why should I have to pass through immigration and customs inspection as a citizen upon return from a scheduled, documented U.S. airline flight?
