Letters: Traumatizing families | Not the plan | False testimony | Peace Corps | 2nd Amendment

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Trump deportation plan
traumatizes families

The Child Abuse Prevention Council of Contra Costa County is concerned about the harmful effects of developing immigration policies, particularly the expansion of deportations. These policies exacerbate the risks to child welfare in far-reaching ways. They may result in separating parents from their children and can cause significant trauma. Children who experience the forced removal of a parent often develop emotional issues. When children are left behind, many are thrust into foster care systems, placing greater strain on overburdened child welfare agencies.

These policies worsen the risks to a child’s welfare. They increase the likelihood of neglect, food insecurity and unmet medical needs — key risk factors for child abuse and neglect.

Healthy families are the cornerstone of society. When children are denied stability and security, we all suffer the consequences.

We urge policymakers to prioritize child welfare when considering immigration policies. Every child needs the opportunity to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment.

Carol Carrillo
Concord

Deporting farmworkers
not part of the plan

Re: “Deporting farmworkers risks our food supply” (Page A7, Dec. 3).

The article misrepresents what the Trump administration has said about its deportation priorities. Rousting and deporting law-abiding, hard-working illegal immigrants does not seem to be high on his list. Donald Trump is more interested in getting rid of known criminals, rapists, felons, child molesters, terrorists, drug cartel and gang members, and military-age foreign nationals. I think most of us would agree that this is a good idea.

If someone wants to talk about threats to agriculture in California, they would do better by criticizing the politicians and agencies in Sacramento and their ridiculous and backward-thinking water policies. Now that is a serious threat to our food supply and the health of the state, in general.

That is a real threat to California, not Trump’s plan to secure our borders, protect our citizens and bolster our national security.

Jay Todesco
Concord

False testimony calls
for AI expert’s dismissal

Re: “Stanford misinformation expert admits his chatbot use led to misinformation in sworn federal court filing” (Dec. 3).

There is much irony in the federal court case of the Stanford University misinformation expert who used artificial intelligence to generate information in a sworn testimony.

If professor Jeff Hancock did not intend to mislead the court or any lawyers, why did he rely on AI for his testimony? As a misinformation expert, he knows the risks of using AI. He even lied in his testimony stating he identified the materials referenced. Stanford must hold their professors at minimum to the same standards expected of their students regarding the use of AI. In this situation, the standard must be higher to ensure integrity in leaders who purport to be experts in misinformation.

He needs to be immediately removed from his position of authority. How much more misinformation has he been spewing with his lofty title and backing from Stanford, which he has been monetizing as an expert witness?

Andrea Bloom
Pleasanton

Trump must continue
Peace Corps’ rebuild

Re: “Recess appointments could put Trump at odds with conservatives on the Supreme Court” (Page A4, Dec. 2).

We are reading about Cabinet positions and agency directors the next president wants to appoint. The current Peace Corps Director, Carol Spahn, will be expected to submit her letter of resignation so that she can be replaced. Director Spahn served admirably to rebuild a Peace Corps from one with no volunteers in any country to one with volunteers in 60 different countries. Her passion for guiding this agency needs to be continued.

It is important that Donald Trump appoints a director to continue the goals of the Peace Corps by connecting skilled, committed volunteers to work in partnership with welcoming host communities. Bipartisan congressional support will make the Peace Corps even more meaningful.

As a member of one of the many Peace Corps advocacy groups affiliated with the National Peace Corps Association, I hope that Trump selects a director who passionately and diligently supports the continued growth and purpose of the Peace Corps.

Frank Price

Berkeley

Proponents must read
entire 2nd Amendment

“A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.”

Why do most supporters of the Second Amendment never mention its first half?

The founders were students of history, and they feared national armies. They knew kings, emperors and generals had used national armies to seize power and oppress their own people.

They favored (at first) the creation of well-regulated, state-run militias to be the backbone of national defense. This never worked out well, which is why we have a national military today. George Washington did not lead a group of 13 state militias, but a national Army pulled from all the states.

The Second Amendment is not about an absolute right of private armed groups to own whatever weapons they choose. Please, read your Constitution.

Michael Steinberg
Berkeley