Dear editor:

As a Powell resident for 35 years, I have read hundreds of opinion letters in the Powell Tribune. Whether I agree or disagree with the opinions presented, I respect the author’s right to express them. Last week, a letter written by Bob and Linda Graff so deeply offended me that I can’t stay silent. While the Graffs have every right to their opinion, I can not respect an opinion that expresses vile racism disguised as fact.

In their letter, the Graffs referred to undocumented immigrants five times, each time in a derogatory manner, all without any facts or substance to support their claims. At one point, they stated, “We wonder if Mr. Anthony has considered that those cases of measles were likely brought in by a huge number of unvaccinated illegal immigrants.” Statements like this are dangerous. They do nothing but spread a false narrative about immigrants, a narrative that says people of color are harmful, a narrative that fosters nothing but fear, hate, and division, one that vilifies an entire group of people.

FACT: In May of 2024, an outbreak of measles did occur in a migrant shelter in Chicago. A prompt and coordinated response with quarantines and vaccinations quickly reduced the size and duration of the outbreak. Through contact tracing, epidemiologists involved in the case believe that the disease was initially contacted locally and brought to the shelter. This coincides with a U.S. Health Department report, which determined that the majority of measles outbreaks in 2024 were from confirmed travelers, not undocumented immigrants (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). FACT: According to recent U.S. government data, the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System, there is “… no statistically significant relationship between the percentage of immigrants (including undocumented immigrants) in a population and the incidence of notifiable diseases, including measles.”

Facts matter. Attributing a measles outbreak to undocumented immigrants based only on biased news reports and personal prejudice is not only irresponsible, it is hateful.

Unfortunately, the Graffs did not stop there. They went on to attack our former president because he “... opened our borders to murderers, rapists and traffickers of drugs and children.”

FACT: A government organization, the National Institute of Justice, found in a recent Texas study that “…undocumented immigrants are arrested at less than half the rate of native-born U.S. citizens for violent and drug crimes.” FACT: According to research conducted by the American Immigration Council, “... a robust body of research shows that welcoming immigrants into American communities not only does not increase crime, but can actually strengthen public safety. Immigrants — including undocumented persons — are less likely to commit crimes than the U.S. born. This is true at the national, state, county and neighborhood levels, for both violent and nonviolent crime.” A myriad of research has shown that the Graffs’ claim that “… with all the illegal immigrants in this country ... we need our military to be ready for anything” is nothing more than a hollow, polarizing claim with nothing to back it up.

There is a perception among many Americans that illegal immigrants are criminals — rapists, drug dealers, homicidal killers. This perception has been endorsed and propagated by a loud-mouthed president and his propaganda news machines. They have exploited and sensationalized a handful of violent crimes committed by immigrants to strengthen this perception. Facts matter. An entire group of people has become a scapegoat for a fearful, easily manipulated American public. This rhetoric is despicable, it is dangerous, and it demeans us all.

The purpose of my letter is not to argue the rights and wrongs of illegal immigration. That is a whole different letter. My purpose is to draw attention to the US vs. THEM mentality that is currently so prevalent in America. Throughout history, this mentality has fostered innumerable holocausts and genocides. This mentality has sorted and ranked people in a bitterly divisive, dehumanizing manner. This mentality has impacted common understanding and deeper personal connections. It is never acceptable.

I challenge the Powell Tribune. While I realize that you have an obligation to print these letters, don’t you also have an obligation to the truth? When such blatant lies that degrade a whole group of people are expressed, don’t you have a moral obligation to fact check them? We live in a terrifying time where the truth from far too many news sources has been dramatically distorted, and these falsehoods have damaged our country. Our free press is one of our last defenses against the lies, but it only works if the free press does its job.

I write this letter with a heavy heart. What have we become? Where is our human decency? Lady Liberty is weeping. If we, as Americans, do not take a stand for the ideals that have always defined America — justice, freedom, truth, and an innate doctrine that diversity is not a threat but a source of strength — then our ideals mean nothing. We all have a right to our opinions, but we do not have a right to publicly disparage a group of people based on hate and lies.

Sincerely,

Karen Miller

Powell