Regarding the article “A border crosser. An execution killing. And political theater.”: I cannot believe the lengths reporters Joe Mahr and Gregory Royal Pratt go to to try to somehow blame President Donald Trump for not getting this accused killer off the street. It’s a hit piece that makes no sense whatsoever.

They state that ”Democratic policies for sure helped him stay on the streets,” and then in the next sentence, they state: ”But so did choices made by the Trump administration in its first five months before the killing, including not seeking a warrant that could have forced local cops to hold him.” This is ridiculous. Basically, their illogical argument is that even though the state and city have kept federal agents from arresting immigrants, it is Trump’s fault because he did not act fast enough to jump though the impediments put up by sanctuary policies. Meanwhile, local governments and police could have easily gotten this guy deported.

It’s very simple. If the state and the city used their resources to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement rather than fight ICE, then there would have never been an Operation Midway Blitz. I believe these sanctuary policies are exactly what caused the “collateral” arrests that our Illinois politicians purportedly abhor and have made it extremely difficult for ICE to actually find the criminals who are in clear view of the police.

— Philip Milord, Western Springs

Carrying ‘papers’

With continuing immigration angst and an increasing felt need to carry “papers” whenever out in public, I anticipate that need will soon become widespread. Even more important than phone, purse, keys and driver’s license, I never leave home without my papers: a copy of the Constitution of the United States.

— Mary Voiland, Naperville

Lying under oath

Based on the many articles I have read, it seems that Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino and other federal agents have lied while testifying in court.

My last civics course was decades ago, but doesn’t this qualify as contempt of court and merit criminal charges? We must hold our public servants to high standards and expect them to obey the laws, not just make up the law as they go along.

For those who believe divine law is higher than human law, I would point to the commandment “Thou shalt not bear false witness.”

Any way you look at it, this is wrong and should be stopped.

— Deborah Himelhoch, Northbrook

US attorney’s job

If the Tribune’s reporting on Operation Midway Blitz is accurate, then Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino lied while testifying under oath in U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis’ courtroom and in depositions. He admitted to doing so in subsequent testimony. Yet, there is no indication that the United States attorney has taken any steps to investigate, let alone indict, Bovino for his admitted perjury. Why?

— Roger J McFadden, Chicago

World AIDS Day

Among the latest erasures of our collective history and humanity is the federal discontinuation of observing World AIDS Day. Founded in 1988, this international observance on Dec. 1 unites us to raise public awareness, honor those who have died from HIV-related illnesses, support those living with HIV/AIDS, and promote education, prevention and care. For many of us, World AIDS Day is not abstract. It is personal.

My former student who became a close friend, Dino, was a funny, smart, creative, deeply compassionate young man with a twinkle in his eyes that could warm the hardest heart. In 1995, while working as a professional actor, he returned home to spend his final months surrounded by family and friends. He asked me to help him create an AIDS education program at the suburban high school where I still taught. The lessons I learned from him — about courage, clarity and humanity — remain with me still.

Since then, I have known men, women and children whose lives have been extended and strengthened by decades of research and medical progress. But the fight is not over. Continued attention, funding and innovation in prevention, care and potential cures remain essential. That progress cannot be taken for granted — yet it now stands at risk.

This year’s World AIDS Day theme, “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response,” resonates painfully in a political climate defined by sweeping cuts to education, research and quality health care. These reductions jeopardize lives today and threaten to reverse hard-won progress into the future. Thoughtful rebuilding of systems is one thing; thoughtless disruption is something else entirely.

World AIDS Day exists because remembering matters, science matters and people’s lives matter. Discontinuing its federal observance does not erase the history — it only diminishes our commitment to a future in which fewer families lose someone like Dino.

— Barbara Turner, Darien

Tenant farming

The Friday article “Soybean farmers struggle with trade war, rising costs” was an eye-opener on the status of Illinois agriculture. If only one-quarter of Illinois farmland is family-owned, the outlook of consolidating farms for corporate investment is obvious. Investment platforms such as AcreTrader facilitate the purchase of bankrupted farms by investors who are not part of the community. Are we headed for tenant farming on a big scale?

The yearly cost of renting Illinois farmland has doubled to $269 per acre. That reminds me of the similarity to the plight of my great grandfather, a tenant farmer of County Mayo, Ireland.

In the 17th century, England used a system of land consolidation to take over small Irish farms, which led to tenant farming. The famine and emigration added to the poverty of tenant farmers who could never get ahead or never got reimbursed for improving the land by absentee owners. Illinois farmers are struggling, and the tariffs are running them out of business.

Did you know Vice President JD Vance has invested in AcreTrader? The Tribune should inform us about that side of the land grab.

— Colleen Oenning, Park Ridge

Targeting boats

Inasmuch as our country has had an overwhelming share of drug cartels pushing drugs into our country for far too long, it is understandable that something needed to be done. Taking aim at and blowing up what appear to be recreational boats out of the water indiscriminately doesn’t follow our reasonable rule of law.

First, are we 100% positive that the targeted boats did in fact have illegal drugs on board? Are we 100% sure that these boats were headed for United States waters with the intent to illegally distribute into our country? Does our presumptive premise give us the right to take military action in foreign waters?

There must be a better way that is perfectly legal and within our rights. To deliberately kill people based on an assumption, without any legal process, is plain-and-simple wrong. We do not operate that way. We hold that every human being is innocent until proven guilty. The people operating the boats may or may not be aware of what the cargo is. If they were ignorant of the cargo but were paid to drive the boat to a particular destination, do they deserve to lose their life by actions of the United States military? Where is the due process?

While it could very well be true that these boats were carrying illegal drugs, how do we positively know that these boats’ intended destination was the United States? The actions directed by President Donald Trump cannot be rationalized as proper and just in any measure. It is so wrong on so many levels.

If we have irrefutable evidence that would prove without any reasonable doubt that these boats and people were destined to enter our waters with the intent to distribute, then capture the boats, people and drugs; charge them with crimes; and allow our justice process to be applied. It is not only the appropriate and fair method but also the human thing to do.

— Dave Roberts, Frankfort

Future havoc?

Afghan refugee Rahmanullah Lakanwal deserves nothing less than death if he is convicted of targeting and ambushing National Guard members Sarah Beckstrom, 20 and Andrew Wolfe, 24. Beckstrom was killed, and Wolfe is clinging to life in critical condition.

But in the meantime — and especially with the increase of anti-Donald Trump rhetoric — we have to wonder how many more people are waiting for just the right moment to wreak havoc in our country.

— JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater, Florida

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https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/03/letters-120325-ice-donald-trump-chicago/