Why is Jon Buss afraid of refugees arriving in the United States (“Make blue states put their money where their mouths are for immigration,” published April 24)?

America has far greater things to worry about at this time than refugees at the southern border. America needs to be concerned with Pecker, Cohen and Trump making fake news for real that influenced the 2016 election outcome. Illegal immigration at the southern border is not high on the Pew Research Center list of top problems. Lack of affordable healthcare, accessible healthcare for women, lack of affordable housing, epidemic gun violence, mass shootings, easy access to assault rifles, election integrity, global threats, cyber-security, runaway corporate greed, needless tax breaks given to corporations and to the wealthy, CEOs sending jobs overseas; and the threat to democracy by the morally ethically bankrupt and dysfunctional MAGA Republican Party in Congress, are high on the Pew Research Center list and should not be overshadowed by border crossings at the southern border.

Congress – and not the president – controls the pursestrings when it comes to budgeting provisions for immigration and border issues. The Trump sycophant Republican Senators were doing Trump’s bidding when these senators irresponsibly reneged on and killed a compromise border security bill two months ago. Remember? President Biden promised to sign the bill.

Poland, Germany and America welcomed, sponsored and embraced Ukrainian refugees. The Ukrainians have settled in and acclimated in cities throughout these countries. The Ukrainian refugees even secured jobs! Imagine that! Here in America, there have been heartwarming news stories, funding from Congress, no protests and no bellyaching and no prophesizing doom by Jon Buss. Why is the Ukrainian refugee experience here in America successful, optimal and welcomed but different for the refugees at the southern border? The refugees at the southern border are coming here for some of the same reasons the Ukrainians fled their country. Why doesn’t America have the same resolve for the refugees at the southern border that it has for the Ukrainians?

President Biden inherited the refugee problem at the southern border. One that Trump only bloviated about (for example, “Make Mexico build the wall!”).

Buss is only promoting fear and redirecting attention from critical problems that should have priority. Yes, there are small percentages of people in every demographic who commit crimes. It’s a given. Buss’ painting the majority of refugees as violent criminals is irresponsible nonsense and fear mongering hyperbole. The refugees at the southern border are hungry, desperate and fearful but not a threat to America.

Like the Ukrainian refugees, the desperate refugees at the southern border arrive believing that they can stay. Why does this great country lack the will and resolve to duplicate for the refugees at the southern border what America, Germany and Poland accomplished for the Ukrainian refugees? The open jobs here in America are waiting to be filled.

Jon Buss is arrogant, feeling threatened and afraid of being replaced by the refugees who will eventually gain entry to the United States.

Stanley McKie

Enumclaw