Just what kind of place has America become? | Letter
Brunswick resident calls for more compassionate immigration policies
A letter written by Brunswick, Maine, resident Bill Higbee was published in The Press Herald on Thursday, urging the Trump administration to change the way it enforces immigration law. Higbee argues that the current approach—shifting taxpayer dollars to pay poorly trained U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and expanding deportations over technical violations—fails to honor the nation’s tradition of welcoming those seeking a better life.
In his letter, Higbee points out that many of the individuals targeted for removal have been law‑affording residents for years, if not decades. “Many of those targeted have been law‑affording, contributing residents for years, if not decades,” he writes. He specifically cites overstaying government‑issued visas—“the legal equivalent of driving with an expired license”—as a common reason for deportation.
Higbee acknowledges that the United States has a right to deport convicted felons. “Certainly no one objects to deporting convicted felons,” he says. Yet he questions the removal of people who are lawfully awaiting asylum hearings and who often fill essential jobs that others refuse to do. “But what kind of a cruel government handcuffs and removes men and women who are lawfully awaiting asylum hearings, many of whom do essential work that others refuse?” he asks.
The letter also criticizes the conditions in which many deportees are held. “What kind of government rips apart hardworking, loving families over technicalities, confines people in unhealthy and often filthy conditions and leaves those left behind in despair and, too often, destitute?” Higbee asks. His remarks reflect concerns that many families are being torn apart over minor infractions and then left in dire circumstances.
Rather than paying $50,000 signing bonuses to agents he describes as “poorly trained” and “unaccountable,” Higbee proposes a different use of federal funds. “Instead of paying $50,000 signing bonuses to poorly trained, unaccountable ICE agents, why not train some of the thousands of laid‑off government workers to help our foreign‑born neighbors find pathways to citizenship?” he writes. He suggests that the administration could rewrite its strategy to “show mercy and encourage assimilation” now that the border has been tightened.
Higbee’s letter also includes a metaphor that has resonated with many readers: “If anyone’s noticed a tear dripping down Lady Liberty’s cheek in New York Harbor, they’re not alone.” He concludes by asking whether a more compassionate approach would be “the better American way,” noting that even Lady Liberty might crack a smile in approval.
The letter reflects a broader debate over immigration enforcement policies that have been a hallmark of the Trump administration. Critics argue that the focus on technical violations and the use of punitive measures against long‑time residents are at odds with the country’s historical role as a sanctuary for refugees and immigrants. Supporters maintain that strict enforcement is necessary to secure borders and reduce illegal immigration.
Higbee’s appeal for a shift
