"THEY CALL IT KARMA"

[wnylib]

5. I have been following immigration

issues at the southern border and at the concentration camps within the US.

Years ago, I used to tutor immigrants in learning the English language and American customs through a volunteer program and then as a paid instructor in a community outreach program. Most of my students were from Latin American countries.-- Mexico, Honduras, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Dominican Republic, and Americans from Puerto Rico.

Several former students stayed in touch and became friends. All but one were here legally and the one who wasn't later applied for and received a green card, eventually became a naturalized citizen. My grandparents were immigrants from Europe as young children in the late 1800's (yes I'm that old). My grandfather's family were political refugees. He "arrived" as a newborn 2 weeks after his parents reached the US (rough trip for his mother).

So it feels personal to me. I am involved in my community in keeping people informed and letting them know what they can do to help.

If today's policies had been in effect in my grandparents' time, they might have been turned away (but maybe not since they were white from northern Europe.) If my students had tried to come here today, they would have been denied entry. I worry about some of them because they visit relatives in their native countries and might be refused entry on returning, although they are now naturalized citizens.