Tucson speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Jan. 30, 2026
- Updated
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Arizona Daily Star.
- Pamela Furrie, Oro Valley
The House has passed the appropriations bill to fund the government. And now the Senate needs to do the same. Senate: Do not shut down the government including FEMA and TSA.
The Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Act provides $64.4 billion in total discretionary funding, a $600 million decrease overall from fiscal year 2025.
Because Republicans provided over $190 billion for the Department of Homeland Security in OBBBA, Congress’ failure to pass a Homeland Security appropriations bill would not shut down ICE or CBP.
But the bill does include new guardrails, accountability and transparency measures across the Department of Homeland Security. And is funding:
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): The bill provides $5.7 billion for FEMA.
Transportation Security Agency (TSA)
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Secret Service (USSS)
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Science and Technology Directorate
Pamela Furrie
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Bill Dowdall, Oro Valley
If the sanctuary cities were not harboring illegals with criminal backgrounds ICE could proceed with their duties without incident but that is not the case. The protests which are far from peaceful are not occurring in red states as local law enforcement is working with ICE. The media and the Democrats are referring to the criminal illegals as if they were citizens, no surprise. Trump pledged to deport the illegals, and he is doing exactly that. There was no skirmish when Obama deported 3 million illegals, all the noise is partisan politics. The Democrats do not want any deportations as they see those as potential voters. It is unfortunate that 2 people have been killed. These protests have funding from the likes of George Soros who want to destabilize America as we know it. The hate for America has no regard for the citizens. Power and control is what they are striving for.
Bill Dowdall
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Gary Haslett, SaddleBrooke
Trump recently posted on social media, "Do the people of Minnesota really want to live in a community in which there are thousands of already convicted murderers, drug dealers and addicts, rapists, violent released and escaped prisoners, dangerous people from mental institution and insane asylums, and other deadly criminals too dangerous to even mention?"
I know Trump is old and had some mental lapses, so I wonder, is he referring to: (A) illegal immigrants, (B) ICE agents, or (C) some members of his own cabinet?
Given recent events and the use of the words "murderers," violent," "drug dealers and addicts," dangerous people," and "criminals so dangerous," I go with a tie between ICE agents and cabinet members.
Gary Haslett
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Robert Emery, Foothills
The national tragedy of Alex Pretti should never have occurred. That being said, even with a permit to carry, why would anyone bring a loaded gun with extra ammo to a "peaceful" protest? Nothing good could happen.
Robert Emery
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Charles Smith, North side
As someone who has lived abroad in Europe and the Middle East, I find conflicting accusations of terrorism to be misleading, either by citizens accusing ICE agents or, ironically, by the Trump administration labeling ICE victims as terrorists. While the Trump cabal charges are to be expected given their facility for lying to cover their incompetence, what Americans would never have anticipated is being threatened and murdered by fellow Americans acting as mercenaries, i.e. guns for hire, no experience needed. ICE agents clearly see themselves as having free rein to arrest and kill to assert their power, openly defying local police. Many appear to be mentally disturbed - Pretti required ten gunshots to kill him when he could have been handcuffed and disarmed? ICE agents represent the lowest common denominator of human beings imaginable, offered employment by Trump-appointed administration officials whom he defends. This is the level to which America has shrunk under the atmosphere of fear and fanaticism backed by the White House.
Charles Smith
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Cynthia Schiesel, East side
Check out the New York Times. It has frame-by-frame footage of the murder of Alex Pretti. And yes, it's clear that the attack on Mr. Pretti was, from the first moment, an overreaction to Mr. Pretti's attempt to protect a woman who had been shoved to the ground by an ICE agent. The frame-by-frame then shows Mr. Pretti on the ground with 6 agents holding him down. It shows him being hit repeatedly in the head by one of the ICE operatives before they shoot the unarmed man. These videos leave no doubt as to the facts and the lies coming from Washington. I was hesitant to post this for fear of retribution, but silence kills and I cannot allow my America to be turned into another dictatorship through fear.
Cynthia Schiesel
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Vance Holliday, Foothills
Why do we have heavily armed, anonymous, masked, poorly trained paramilitary units in our cities intimidating, roughing up, and arresting people merely suspected of being in the U.S. illegally (a misdemeanor), including U.S. citizens? One was pulled out of her car through the window. Another was marched into the street in his underwear. Two were shot dead. These are the “jack-booted thugs” the GOP once complained about. As recent LTEs noted, Obama deported over 5 million people, Biden a little under 5 million. Very few were hardened criminals nor were they treated as such. No U.S. citizens were jailed, beaten or shot. The racists in the current administration, most notably Stephen Miller and the Commander in Thief, aided and abetted by Noem and others, clearly encourage the violence and cruelty because they want spectacle for their supporters. That is the point.
Vance Holliday
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Mary Wujcik, North side
I read the story about this meeting, I was disappointed in what they had to say & wondering where they got their information. First, no protesters have been paid. They are exercising their Constitutional right to peaceably assemble. Secondly, Renee Good was not blocking traffic. If you watched the video, you could see a vehicle passing her easily on the road and also see she was turning the wheel away from the agent. And Mr. Pretti did not pull his gun on the agents. His gun, which he had a permit to carry, remained in its holster until an agent removed it. He was not threatening agents; he was documenting their activities. Watch the videos.
Mary Wujcik
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Mike Carran, West side
Border Patrol head Greg Bovino says his agents have extensive law enforcement training.
Law enforcement training requires preservation of a crime scene. ICE released a picture of a pistol on a car seat as proof that killing Alex Pretti was justified and proof, he was intent on slaughtering law enforcement officials. A picture of a pistol on a car seat is proof that there is a pistol on a car seat. It is also proof that a crime scene hasn't been preserved.
ICE agents justified the killing of Renee Good falsely claiming she was using her car as a weapon to attack an ICE agent standing in front of her car. Law enforcement training teaches officers not to place themselves in front of a car.
ICE agents aren't law enforcement agents. They're thugs who lie and those lies have destroyed our ability to trust.
Mike Carran
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Saelon Renkes, Green Valley
ICE is no longer functioning as it was originally intended, and instead has become an organization delivering domestic terrorism within the United States. They pick up an occasional undocumented immigrant, and every once in a while they pick up someone with an actual record of criminal violence, but their primary function is now to terrorize the populations in areas that don't support Trump. They are now an organization of domestic terrorism, as defined by the DHS.
For its use of the term domestic terrorism, DHS relies on the definition of terrorism from the Homeland Security Act. It states that terrorism is any activity that
(A) involves an act that—
(i) is dangerous to human life or potentially destructive of critical infrastructure or key resources; and
(ii) is a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State or other subdivision of the United States; and
(B) appears to be intended—
(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
(iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping."
ICE is currently checking every one of those boxes in a concerted effort to bully citizens and local governments.
Congress has a duty to immediately stop all funding of ICE and to withhold it until the agency and its priorities are completely reworked. This is unlikely to happen under the Trump regime, so it will need to be defunded until he is out of office.
Saelon Renkes
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Tamzen Pickard, SaddleBrooke
Given the events of the past few weeks, it might be a good time to review the definition of fascism:
"Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian political ideology marked by extreme nationalism, a strong central government led by a dictator, militarism, and the suppression of opposition, prioritizing the nation/state above the individual. Key characteristics include a single-party state, control over economy and society, aggressive promotion of national or racial superiority, and opposition to democracy, liberalism, and communism, often rising through populist movements promising national rebirth.
At the core of fascism is loyalty to tribe, ethnic identity, religion, tradition, or, in a word, nation."
-- Merriam-Webster
Tamzen Pickard
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Louise Heaberlin-Goff, Vail
Since I was raised to be respectful of those in authority, I’ll be kind. Honestly, though, the first year of your second term -- especially these past 2 months -- has left me challenged. Your overarching goal of ridding the U.S. of the worst of the worst is a noble cause and one which I believe most of us can support. Additionally, I don’t envy ICE and Homeland Security staff tasked with that job.
However, the WH version of what occurred in the deaths of nurse Alex Pretti and Renee Good, mother of three, purportedly domestic terrorists, gives me pause. Vivid and graphic videos don’t support that position. If they’re the worst of the worst, there’s little hope for the rest of us.
Since our Constitutional rights continue to be compromised since the beginning of your 2nd term, I believe the legacy you desire to leave -- much like the Nobel Peace Prize you covet — will be for naught. You can do better.
Louise Heaberlin-Goff
Vail
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Ray Bynum, Northwest side
There has been a love/ hate relationship between LE and Federal since the 1920s (Prohibition). ATF/FBI was hated because Waco (resulting in numerous deaths- including children). IRS and ATF for enforcing against illegal alcohol (moonshine). See Brown vs the Board of Education desegregation of schools in the South in the 1950s and 60s. Most support the federal effort over the past 120 years. Sometimes they don't like the tactics being used. Trust is a big issue – both sides.
Trump and Noem should propose a new federal gun bill similar to CA. It prohibits any weapons to be present at any protest nationwide (enacted after the Kyle Rittenhouse incident). Biggest threat to ICE is the open carry cell phone (camera). Suggest buying more cell phones (camera) to document the incidents. In the last incident, it was the posting of several cell phone photos and videos which allowed the world to view the incident (before the spin). Thank you for posting the incident quickly.
Ray Bynum
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Scott Coverdale, Midtown
In a column of January 24th, Paul McCarthy told us that since Greenland is a handy spot to put missiles and radar stations and since — by the bye — it has lots of mineral wealth, then the United States has an interest — yea, an obligation — to own and control the place. He suggests that critics are trying to “invoke abstract notions of sovereignty while ignoring practical realities.” This is the language of Putin talking about Ukraine, of the Nazis referring to Hungary and Poland and France. It is the language of ambition and greed. Sovereignty is merely an abstract notion?
McCarthy, representing the Heritage Foundation, says, “This is not imperial conquest. It is a strategic consolidation.” Employing an Orwellian euphemism does not change reality. The fact that Greenland/Denmark have something that Trump wants, and finding a rationale for getting it by whatever means necessary is imperialism. The people of Greenland are not fooled by the euphemism. We should not be fooled either.
Scott Coverdale
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Jon Langione, Marana
I called two nationwide investment firms and posed this question. Can I put a stock purchase on my credit card? Neither said no. That is insane. At 12% average interest and 5% in commissions and fees it would take a 17% gain just to break even. In 1999, during the Clinton administration, Glass-Steagall was repealed, allowing commercial banks to invest in securities. That mistake caused the 2008 crash due to the banks borrowing the money to invest, and using depositors' money, creating a fear of runs on the banks. Allowing stocks to be purchased on credit cards could cause a mini-2008 as the ‘investors’ would not be able to keep up with the high payments for the purchase. And there will be no government bail-out to save them. Big mistake.
Jon Langione
Marana
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Donald Reese, Southeast side
When you read the TPD “critical incident reviews” (available online), patterns emerge. Officers show remarkable restraint and heroism when suspects ignore instructions to drop their guns, and typically don’t fire their weapons until fired upon. On Friday, TPD officers wounded an armed man. There will be two investigations about this incident - one by the University of Arizona Police, and one by TPD. I don’t know what the results of the investigations will be, but the point is, the shooting will be investigated.
Trump Administration officials say the two killings in Minneapolis will not be investigated. They immediately slandered the victims as terrorists. ICE and the Border Patrol are blocking Minnesota officials from examining evidence. The videos we have all seen put the lie to the gaslighting by Noem, Bovino, Vance, and Trump. If their agents are acting correctly, they need not fear independent investigations.
Donald Reese
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Margarita Bernal, West side
My LTEs to suggest that ICE's presence in Tucson will be coming have been met with little or ineffective response by local elected officials. A press release from City of Tucson, without notice re: translation for immigrants and an elected official, that is more concerned about the police chief speaking with your reporter, Steller to modify his comments.
AG Kris Mayes has warned that here, in an open carry state, there will surely be clashes with recklessly trained ICE agents. Perhaps we are now seeing what immigrants have had to deal with, the brutality and level/method of enforcement.
Young and old Latino citizens are upset and carrying their passports, expecting the unexpected. City workers are being questioned by brilliant ICE agents who can't see they are driving a City vehicle. Now, another death in Minnesota, an unnecessary car chase on 1-19 resulting in deaths, and the attempt to extort Minnesota officials to turn over their voting rolls, in exchange for withdrawing their ICE troops.
Prepare for clashes and unforeseen tragedy/wrongful arrests in our town.
Margarita Bernal
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Glen Vann, West side
Another senseless killing of an American citizen took place in Minneapolis on Saturday. This one even more violent and indefensible as the last one.
Right on cue, government officials released their own distorted version of events claiming that the victim, Alex Pretti, approached officers with a loaded gun. The only accurate part of their statement was that he had a loaded gun, which was strapped to his hip, but never left his holster until agents removed it from him.
Pretti was filming ICE operations and went to the aid of a woman bowled over by a BP agent. He was tackled, beaten, sprayed, and on the ground when one of the agents saw his gun, grabbed it and moved away. A second or so later, agents opened fire multiple times while Pretti was on the ground. Then, incredibly, backed away from his lifeless body and shot about 4 more times.
That's murder, folks. Plain and simple.
Glen Vann
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Randy Garmon, North side
In Tiananmen Square (Beijing, China) in 1989, one man stopped four military tanks by quietly standing in front of the lead tank. One man. One voice.
With two shooting deaths and the resulting protests in Minneapolis, it seems to me that The Trump Administration, being led by Stephen Miller, is intent on creating chaos through the actions of ICE agents. I fear that the end game is to spread this chaos to other cities throughout our country so as to justify (in their minds) declaring Martial Law … and thereby canceling the 2026 General Election. I may be overreacting, but the prospect of the 2026 election being canceled so that President Trump remains in power scares me.
ICE agents are currently grabbing non-criminal undocumented immigrants off of our Tucson streets.
Because I have reached my tipping point, I choose to join other Tucson citizens taking our concerns to the streets. If you too have reached your tipping point, go to Take Action Tucson for listings of organized protests.
Randy Garmon
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Barbara Liguori, Northeast side
How many more people have to be executed in the streets at the hands of the lawless, out-of-control goons of ICE, supervised by a wannabe Nazi in his military greatcoat, or out of sight in the concentration camps run by DHS, before our spineless “lawmakers” finally stop to this outrage and hold the perpetrators of these crimes accountable?
Trump’s personal police force is trampling the Constitution before our eyes, dragging people out of cars, breaking into their houses, and separating children from parents while he and his complicit sycophants parrot his lies that ICE is going only after criminals in the country illegally and that anyone who protests is a “domestic terrorist.”
The masked goons need only look in the mirror to see the real domestic terrorists.
As Professor Timothy Snyder states, "The lies begin as clichés, memes that are pounded into our heads by the government and by those in the media who repeat them."
Call your representatives in Congress and demand immediate action.
Barbara Liguori
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Barbara Benjamin, Foothills
George Orwell was right? Tod Blanche appeared on Meet The Press (1/25) telling moderator Welk that the public cannot believe what we're witnessing on the filmed ICE violations. Instead, we should believe the administration's assessment. He insisted that local law enforcement in Minneapolis is not supporting ICE in its efforts to police the city. But federal intervention was never requested by the mayor nor by the governor. Why would any law enforcement department aid ICE when the federal purview is not local policing? Blanche blamed the mayor and governor for the killings in Minneapolis. He said protestors had no right to yell at ICE, that they were impeding ICE's function. Interestingly, the US Constitution guarantees the rights of peaceable assembly and protest, it does not prohibit "yelling." Not only do Trump and his authoritarian acolytes want to control what we see and hear, but they want to post and control their own narratives. "1984" is a little late but George Orwell was right.
Barbara Benjamin
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- George Ball, Midtown
On July 4th, Washington D.C. will be renamed as Trump World. Excitement abounds as you experience the all that Trump World has to offer.
Men’s World will allow you to exert your highest masculine fitness to abuse women and anyone else verbally and physically. Bring your wife so that she can be part of the fun.
Women’s World provides the opportunity for women and non-masculine individuals to experience life as a piece of furniture to be kicked around. Doesn’t get any better than this!
ICE World allows wannabe sadists the opportunity to wade into the locals with batons, guns and TASERs with the chance to rough up your choice of protester. With luck you might even get to shoot someone.
King’s World is your opportunity to kiss the butt of King Orange for the small donation of $1M.
Make your vacation plans today.
George Ball
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Tom Van Devender, North side
For decades, conservatives and the National Rifle Association have demanded the right to own as many guns as possible based on the Second Amendment right to self defense and against tyranny. They railed that Liberals would take away their guns over their dead bodies. On January 6, Trump urged Secret Service to turn off the magnetometers to allow gun-toting MAGAs on their way to the Capitol to hear his speech in the White House Ellipse. In March 2020, there were 301,268 legal carry gun permits in Minnesota. VA Hospital ICU nurse Alex Pretti with a cell phone in his hand turned to help a woman slipping on the ice. Both were pepper sprayed and knocked to the ground. While kicking him, an agent took Pretti's legal carry pistol from his waist, yelled ‘gun’, and another agent shot him 10 times. MAGA beware, the Trump’s (not the DEMs) new policy is literally to take your gun from your dead body. So much for our Second Amendment rights.
Tom Van Devender
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Mike Cravens, Marana
As a retired senior military officer, I know war. America is at war -- with itself. The first casualty of conflict is truth. And now, a body count of American citizens. Our true foreign enemies recline, and without effort, let the self-inflicted damage mount.
Founding fathers recognized the only true threat to our democracy experiment would come from within. That threat now emanates from a chaotic, cancer-spewing despot who abandons truth, transparency and accountability.
Whatever the mask of “Make America Great Again” offered, its cost is too great to bear. Judgment Day is coming and until then -- resist. Resist. Resist.
Mike Cravens
Marana
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Robert A. Benzinger, Northeast side
MEMORANDUM
To: The President
From: The Real World
Subject: Foreign Policy
1. Bellowing, bullying, and boasting are not a foreign policy.
2. Your immediate attention to this matter is requested.
Robert A. Benzinger
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Mark Cochran, Green Valley
For years those amongst us that champion the Second Amendment have explained that the need to have unlimited access to guns of all types is to prevent government tyranny. So, in light of the killing of an apparently lawfully carrying VA ICU nurse by an agent working for ICE, a "domestic terrorist" according to our government, I ask: So how's that theory working out for us?
Mark Cochran
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Gary Haslett, SaddleBrooke
Recently, Robert Kennedy Jr. announced he was not taking flu shots anymore. His reason was that he thought his throat problem could be caused by flu shots. Since his early 40s he has had a condition called Dysphonia, which affects his vocal cords. Medical research says that flu shots do not cause this rare disorder. However, Kennedy, in typical double speak fashion, said he could not prove flu shots caused the disorder, but he could not rule it out either.
So he is not taking them and made sure the world knew.
One can take this logic and add a Trump spin. Many people have said that watching FOX News can lower IQ. I am skeptical of that and there is no research to back it up. However, I cannot rule it out either. So I won't be watching FOX News because it could lower IQ.
Gary Haslett
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Richard Harper, Northeast side
There are three general exceptions to our Constitution’s warrant requirement allowing police entry into someone’s home. “Exigent circumstances” meaning matters of life and death, “hot pursuit” officers closely chasing a fleeing criminal who runs into a home, or, voluntary permission of the authorized occupant/homeowner. If I have a criminal arrest warrant signed by a judge and it is the perpetrator's home, the warrant will allow me to enter to make the arrest, but not search the house. If the perpetrator is in someone else’s home, I need a search warrant signed by a judge to go along with the arrest warrant. If the police don’t have permission, they must convince a judge they have probable cause to arrest the person and his location. So why is ICE forcibly entering a person’s home on an “Administrative Warrant” when those involve “civil” violations as opposed to criminal? All professional officers know the Fourth Amendment. ICE should re-evaluate this advice; lawful and ethical policing is paramount.
Richard Harper
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Lawrence E. Mazin, SaddleBrooke
Dear Mr. President,
Few things have preoccupied you more than the Nobel Prize, a fixation so obvious that foreign crises and Venezuela’s suffering risk being reduced to stage props in your personal award campaign.
You should know the first to receive a Nobel Medal as a "gift" without earning it was Joseph Goebbels, who in 1943 received a Nobel Prize medal as a personal gift from the novelist Knut Hamsun. Hamsun so admired Adolf Hitler that he mistook fascism for greatness and propaganda for truth.
After the war, Hamsun was tried in Norway. He avoided prison only because he was ruled criminally insane. He was fined, disgraced, and forever remembered less for his talent than for his moral collapse.
Then there is you, like Goebbels, you weaponize grievance, substitute loyalty for truth, and treat reality as optional. Like Hamsun, you mistake applause for absolution and notoriety for legacy.
The Nobel Committee may never call but history will.
Lawrence E. Mazin
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Rick Cohn, West side
Keeping the Epstein files at bay, DJT risked torpedoing NATO by threatening Denmark with military intervention if it didn't give him Greenland. He has now brilliantly solved that issue with "a framework of a deal" that contains no changes to the existing agreement but leaves our NATO allies with buyer's remorse.
Trump does nothing that doesn't benefit him, and usually only him. It is apparent that his ongoing scheme to stop the Epstein files' disclosure will primarily benefit DJT. Whatever it is that the Epstein files reveal about DJT, it must be extremely damaging political kryptonite for him to have committed this outrageous act of diplomatic suicide in order to distract from that revelation. What outrageously extreme behavior will he resort to next?
Rick Cohn
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Sheldon Metz, Northeast side
Get kick down door stoppers for bottom of doors. Kristi Noem has informed all ICE agents that, despite the 4TH Amendment, they do not need a warrant to ram into your home.
4th Amendment: ‘The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.’
On May 15, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that a law enforcement officer’s use of force violates the Fourth Amendment when it is not "objectively reasonable."
Noem’s rule is overtly unconstitutional and thereby grounds for impeachment.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Lee Stanfield, East side
The Wall St. Journal article in the Star 01/23/26 said the only way to stop ICE terrorism of our communities is to vote Trump out. This is extremely bad advice. "Trump & Thugs, Unlimited" will either find a way to prevent elections, or to gerrymander, suppress voting, and otherwise rig them in their favor.
That's why the only effective response to an ICE invasion of any state or community is what Minnesota is doing - unified strikes and business shutdowns along with states and communities filing federal and state lawsuits against ICE and against every ICE agent who violates any Constitutionally valid federal, state, or local law.
Unlike protests at ICE kidnappings, strikes and business shutdowns cannot be infiltrated by pro-ICE thugs who disguise themselves as anti-ICE protesters and use violence to help Trump justify sending in National Guard troops.
Lee Stanfield
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Kimball Shinkoskey, Downtown
The President’s new Board of Peace is an authoritarian alternative to the largely democratic United Nations, with himself as the power-monger in charge. Conceived a few months ago as a vehicle to enforce peace in Gaza, it has now been expanded into a new Middle East Order giving Trump power over beefs throughout the region.
Trump announced, “After the Board of Peace is formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want.” When you don’t have to ask the people anywhere for their permission, it is “Peace on earth, ill-will toward men.”
Meanwhile, back in the good old USA, ICE agents in Lewiston, Maine are impersonating plain clothes regular police or hiding in the wings of the porch as neighbors knock on doors to reveal Somali immigrants that ICE then quickly sweeps up.
Folks in America, like in the Middle East, no longer have any role in the government of their country.
Kimball Shinkoskey
Downtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- DAVID E LEON, Vail
The current Republican leader in Pima county told a local news outlet that ICE is arresting illegal criminals. Yet this past week, a 14-year-old autistic boy was released after 50 days in detention. A 5-year-old was arrested because the poor little guy had no ID to prove he was a citizen. And many others who are US citizens being arrested and being abused in custody. I'm a wounded Vietnam veteran, Mexican American, my son is a professional Real Estate photographer, and has darker skin than me. He is worried sick about being arrested, just to meet their 3 thousand per day count. ICE is in Vail today. These people are pardoned criminals with no training. Let's hope our current dictator is overthrown soon by our Military. Then released to one of his favorite dictators, Putin.
DAVID E LEON
Vail
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Daniel McDonnell, Foothills
Norway took five trillion dollars of North Sea oil revenues and made their citizens lives better. They gave their sons and daughters free education; they gave every citizen free health care. Their aging and infirm citizens have comprehensive supportive care. All the people who work, regardless of the job, have a living wage.
Norway is an example of how enlightened leaders make people's lives better, and it is an example of how we could improve the lives of every single citizen of Venezuela. What happens in Venezuela makes a statement about who we are as a country and as a people.
Daniel McDonnell
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Mary Zimmerman, SaddleBrooke
Trump likes to tout himself as a savvy deal maker. This is how it's done. First, you create a crisis like threatening to invade Greenland and slapping illegal tariffs on our European allies. This in turn tanks the stock market. There is push back all around, both domestically and abroad, so you announce you have a "concept of a framework of a deal" and you won't invade Greenland. Details to follow. Crisis is averted and you pat yourself on the back for avoiding the crisis. Pravda, excuse me, Fox News, gushes over Trump's great deal making. Meanwhile, Putin is thrilled over watching Trump tearing apart NATO.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Emma Johnson, Downtown
I was disappointed to see that you ran the Wednesday, Jan. 21 column by Froma Harrop blaming absentee fathers for declining birth rates.
Harrop erroneously conflates unpaid child support with a lack of father involvement. Studies find that the majority of fathers who live separately from their children are actively and meaningfully involved in their lives. This is especially true as parenting culture now promotes 50/50 custody arrangements, and a dozen states have passed laws making equal parenting time the legal presumption.
Research finds that fathers want to pay child support but cannot afford to. Harrop leans on the “deadbeat dad” trope, while contemporary families know these men are good fathers who are—like their female co-parents — dead broke.
Moms understand what decades of social science shows: Parenting is more valuable than child support payments. Low-income single mothers increasingly choose not to file for child support, telling surveys that they do not believe payments are fair to fathers who care for and financially support their kids.
Emma Johnson
Downtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Linda Rothchild, Midtown
As the violence becomes worse and worse on our American streets, two thoughts come to me:
1. Whether ICE or in Police Depts., I think they should be called Peace Officers. A simple name change can act as a reminder to start with respect; for the uniform, for the person, for our country.
2. Our sons shouldn't be killing our sons. If so many want to fight, there are lots of places around the world needing our help.
Maybe Aretha was right! R-E-S-P-E-C-T!
Linda Rothchild
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Philip Reinecker, East side
Apparently Trump told a gathering in Switzerland that "If they had not had the United States to protect them during world war 2 they would all now be speaking German". The predominant language in Switzerland is German. Do you ever wonder, as I do, whether Trump ever feels the need to check things out before talking about them? I know, I know, he is so brilliant with his magnificent IQ that he knows all. Unfortunately he believes that but it isn't true. His mind is warped and his intellect is sorely lacking. This man belongs in a care home, with the shades drawn, where he can be tended to and allowed to decline into oblivion.
Philip Reinecker
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Deb Klumpp, Oro Valley
Searching for an appropriate word to describe Trump's incoherent rambling at the recent World Economic Summit, I settled on "cringeworthy". Something beyond "embarrassing" is in order. What did summit attendees think, listening to Trump blather on for 70 minutes, reiterating his Big Lie about the 2020 election (landslide win, won all seven swing states, blatant election fraud occurred, etc.) He denigrated Biden (worst president ever). Inherited a mess. Then, talk of how he can lower drug prices, maybe even 800% (huh?) by getting France to increase their drug prices. Then, on to totally incoherent remarks about housing prices and mortgages that made no sense. Throughout his speech, he repeatedly referred to Greenland as Iceland - not once, not twice, but over and over. I truly think he believes they are one and the same. Mix in a good dose of bragging and threatening force if the spirit moves him. The president of the U.S. showed the world his vast ignorance, stupidity and incompetence. We are the laughingstock of the world.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Tim O'Connor, West side
Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, recently stated, “we are in the midst of a rupture,” relating to a new era or world order. Long-standing rules, alliances, and the practice of fair play no longer apply. You may remember the movie “The King and I” with Yul Brenner, who on his deathbed allows his son, the prince to give orders. The initial order is to stop the act of bowing before the king. Out of respect for the dying king, all bow before him. In today’s era, bowing or kowtowing before the current king in D.C. and his administration is the new order. Allegiance to the federal government is without doubt. If you disagree or question, the White House will see you in court or worse, cyberbully you on social media. As the world is being torn by continued mean-spirited rhetoric and actions from our administration, we need to “call foul” and of course, bow to the king.
Tim O'Connor
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Sally Wasielewski, East side
A recent LTE asserted that acquiring Greenland was no different than the Louisiana Purchase or the purchase of Alaska. Wrong. The US did not already have a major voluntary military presence in either territory when France (1803) and Russia (1867) voluntarily chose to sell those territories; in neither case was the US breaking an international pact [the UN] of which we are a member; nor were the purchases done in the face of vehement opposition by the populace. Most importantly, in both cases the purchases were effectuated by treaties passed by the Senate. No: to compare Trump's grandiose, bombastic, imperialistic threats to voluntary and willing sales shows a lack of historical knowledge. Of course Trump is hellbent to rewrite American history to glorify himself and erase the past, so it's not surprising his worshippers have swallowed the Kool-Aid, history be damned.
Sally Wasielewski
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Bruce Hilpert, North side
How utterly amazing is our President? After only one day and one speech at Davos he has brokered the “framework” of a deal to claim Greenland! This was apparently negotiated with the Secretary General of NATO, a Trump fanboy.
Unfortunately, NATO does not own Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said no negotiations had been held with NATO regarding the sovereignty of Greenland. Once more we see that Trump works one of his astounding deals by negotiating with an agreeable party, not the necessary participants. Settle the Russia invasion of Ukraine? Talk with Putin and ignore Ukraine. Peace in Gaza? Ignore the Palestinians and Hamas and reward Israel's destruction of Gaza and expansion into the west bank.
Who knows what Trump's framework might include, but I can guarantee you it will be a one-sided deal that does not respect the interests of the people of Greenland and Denmark.
Bruce Hilpert
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Rich Bailowitz, Northeast side
If there were a drop of goodness in Mr. Trump, here's what he could do. Involve Denmark with a pretend takeover of Greenland. Send troops into northern Greenland breathing down Russia's neck. An enraged Putin threatens the U.S. demanding they leave Greenland. Begrudgingly, Trump says we will only leave Greenland if Russia leaves the Ukraine. Both superpowers recede. Then perhaps he gets a Nobel Prize.
Rich Bailowitz
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Jim Christ, East side
Recently, a woman asked me why I was wearing my “RESIST” button as I entered a grocery store. I responded, “Because many Americans can’t afford the Felonious Occupant’s tariffs.” She said, “Things are just fine in my world.”
The woman’s remark reflect the way most MAGAs view their world: They can afford to absorb huge tariff-induced increases in the cost of everything, so who cares about some single mom working as a waitress? They aren’t worried about losing their medical coverage, so who cares about older people who go without a doctor’s care?
They are not affected by ICE raids; There are no armed soldiers patrolling their neighborhoods; They’ll get by just fine after cuts to Medicare. Who cares?,,
MAGA world, courtesy of the Felonious Occupant.
Resist.
Jim Christ
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Dennis Winsten, Northeast side
I am a veteran and remember when veterans who served were respected and not deemed “losers” by a president who dodged the draft. I remember when the government worked for the people and did not pardon violent January 6 criminals. I cannot recall when our government unleashed thugs selectively into states that did not support the Republican president. I remember when Republicans who lost elections were gracious losers. I remember being a Republican Party voter (Goldwater, Nixon twice, Reagan) when the Republicans were fiscally responsible and worked on a bipartisan basis for the benefits of constituents and our country. That is not the Republican Party today. That is why I will support every Democratic Party candidate with money and my vote.
Dennis Winsten
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Clay Berger, Foothills
In the January 24th edition of the Star the caption of the photo showed "An FBI seal is displayed Jan. 16 on a podium before a news conference at the field office in Portland". The AP reporter needs to be educated. A podium is a raised platform, such as a stage where speakers wait to speak for instance. The picture is of a lectern, a piece of furniture which a speaker stands behind. One would hope that journalists could get this right.
Clay Berger
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- J. A. Babcock, North side
What is happening today has serious analogies to past histories with how American military and paramilitary forces are being used against American citizens today. First is use of U.S. military against its own citizens. In July 1932 President Herbert Hoover ordered the US Army to forcibly evict WW I veterans and their families from Washington DC, who came to the Nation’s Capital to address Congress. This questionable or illegal use of the military was a significant contributing factor in Hoover’s loss in the 1932 election. A second analogy would be Homeland Security using tactics like those used by Germany in the 1920s to 1945 to eliminate what they claimed were “The people who contaminate the blood of the Aryan Nation.” While in the Trump administration I believe the intent is to try and take away legal protection that is a keystone of our Constitution, the rule of law that is the Judiciary.
J. A. Babcock
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Scott Davison, Northwest side
Too little, too late, the Republican Party is truly a disgrace to our Constitution, our American values, our country. If they are going to hold a leadership position in one of our bodies of government, they need to stand tall and start acting like a leader. We need to vote this group of disgraceful, hypocritical Republicans out, replace them with individuals like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who are true Republican leaders. If you can't find a Republican with their values, then vote Democrat so "we" can have the majority and impeach this bunch of lying, cheating scumbags who can't commit to a personal value and have no moral desire to build a country for the people. It is up to us, the people. Don't trust anything they say, it's just a smokescreen to get through the midterms.
I will continue to protest with the good people of America.
Scott Davison
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Don Gerlach, East side
Our ruler talks about using a "massive armada" if (when?) he initiates an attack on Iran. Do the American people really understand -- agree -- that we would be the aggressor in using our resources, military equipment and personnel, to attack another country? Will our ruler be keeping back enough of these resources to support his deployment of ICE and other federal agents within the U.S.? Yoo hoo, Congress, are you there?
Don Gerlach
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Gary Thacker, Midtown
With abusive and unaccountable DHS agents besieging Minneapolis, we now see what the GOP’s fascism looks like. A few elected Republicans have tepidly pushed back, but most of them never will. Elected Republicans are afraid of Trump and his MAGA base. Trump tweets fatwas against anyone who is not sufficiently loyal to him, and the MAGA base makes death threats to the dissenters and their families.
This will not stop unless and until we vote the Republicans out. Do not believe anything Republicans say or promise. They will goose-step to Trump’s orders. Vote them out.
Gary Thacker
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Lawrence Mazin, SaddleBrooke
If Trump’s stated goal is to find and deport undocumented immigrants, the math leaves no room for ambiguity: The focus should be Texas and Florida, not Minnesota. This is not ideology or rhetoric; it is just simple arithmetic.
Current demographic estimates place Texas at roughly 2.1 million undocumented immigrants and Florida at about 1.6 million. Minnesota’s total is estimated at around 130,000. In plain terms, Texas has about sixteen times as many undocumented residents as Minnesota, and Florida has roughly twelve times as many.
The percentages reinforce the point. Undocumented immigrants make up approximately 7 percent of the populations of Texas and Florida, compared with about 2 percent in Minnesota. Any enforcement strategy designed to maximize removals per agent or impact per dollar would naturally concentrate resources where the population is largest.
The conclusion is hard to avoid. This is not an immigration strategy, it is a political performance with its main goal is chaos, violence, intimidation and an excuse to militarize our cities.
Lawrence Mazin
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Hope Gastelum, East side
People push back on analogies between Trump and Hitler; of course, there are distinct differences. Still, Trump is an insecure, swaggering bully who completely disregards anything opposing his "wants." He is ignorant, lies continually, and has an insatiable lust for self-aggrandizement and dominance. He never contemplates long-term outcomes, and thinks in simplistic, often fact-free terms. Trump has not goose-stepped anyone into ovens, but relishes other means of punishing disagreement with him or refusal to support his lawlessness. Though essentially a thug, his methods involve inflicting personal, reputational or financial harm to his "enemies." If others perpetrate physical harm on his behalf, he's pleased. American citizens provided Trump awesome power, not once, but twice. I believe, post Trump, our country will bear a shame similar to that the Germans experienced in the post Hitler years - embarrassment and humiliation because we enabled this awful person as he systematically demolished the once great standing America had in the world.
Hope Gastelum
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Norman Epstein, Midtown
If you have access (directly or through a friend) to the online NY Times, I recommend reading Thomas Edsall’s essay from January 13, 2026 “Trump Unmasked.” It’s a terrific and well researched summary of Trump’s psychopathology with references to the dark triad of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathology — which have particularly surfaced with his ascension to power. His malignant narcissism manifests as poor judgment, lack of inhibition, a total lack of empathy, as well as feelings of omnipotence and a desire to aggressively dominate, aided by a bullying personality. These conditions cause him to never apologize, and show up in escalating displays of dominance, a lack of morality, and a need for never-ending praise which is rarely justified. His “weave” is just word salad, the raving of a disturbed and chaotic mind. As a physician, I say these are legitimate observations and diagnoses, much to my dismay. Read the essay.
Norman Epstein
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Craig Hill, Oracle
Has anybody thought about what if Kamala Harris had been elected? We as a nation would be in a different kind of world. No for the Republicans who would be saying, this too much cultural awareness, we can't support people across the world, even though it saves lives. We would be in a world of "DEI''. We would be people who are respectful of each other, the rhetoric would not be there, there would be no talk of invading Venezuela, nor Greenland. The world would respect us as decent human beings. 75 billion dollars for ICE, but we are paying for that. Let that sink in, when the BBB was passed, how far would that have gone to help with health care insurance? Kamala would not have even thought about enriching herself the way the current person in charge would have. 2 people in Minnesota have lost their lives, how many more, is respectfully to hope not to die.
Craig Hill
Oracle
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
More like this...
- Pamela Furrie, Oro Valley
The House has passed the appropriations bill to fund the government. And now the Senate needs to do the same. Senate: Do not shut down the government including FEMA and TSA.
The Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Act provides $64.4 billion in total discretionary funding, a $600 million decrease overall from fiscal year 2025.
Because Republicans provided over $190 billion for the Department of Homeland Security in OBBBA, Congress’ failure to pass a Homeland Security appropriations bill would not shut down ICE or CBP.
But the bill does include new guardrails, accountability and transparency measures across the Department of Homeland Security. And is funding:
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): The bill provides $5.7 billion for FEMA.
Transportation Security Agency (TSA)
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Secret Service (USSS)
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Science and Technology Directorate
Pamela Furrie
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Bill Dowdall, Oro Valley
If the sanctuary cities were not harboring illegals with criminal backgrounds ICE could proceed with their duties without incident but that is not the case. The protests which are far from peaceful are not occurring in red states as local law enforcement is working with ICE. The media and the Democrats are referring to the criminal illegals as if they were citizens, no surprise. Trump pledged to deport the illegals, and he is doing exactly that. There was no skirmish when Obama deported 3 million illegals, all the noise is partisan politics. The Democrats do not want any deportations as they see those as potential voters. It is unfortunate that 2 people have been killed. These protests have funding from the likes of George Soros who want to destabilize America as we know it. The hate for America has no regard for the citizens. Power and control is what they are striving for.
Bill Dowdall
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Gary Haslett, SaddleBrooke
Trump recently posted on social media, "Do the people of Minnesota really want to live in a community in which there are thousands of already convicted murderers, drug dealers and addicts, rapists, violent released and escaped prisoners, dangerous people from mental institution and insane asylums, and other deadly criminals too dangerous to even mention?"
I know Trump is old and had some mental lapses, so I wonder, is he referring to: (A) illegal immigrants, (B) ICE agents, or (C) some members of his own cabinet?
Given recent events and the use of the words "murderers," violent," "drug dealers and addicts," dangerous people," and "criminals so dangerous," I go with a tie between ICE agents and cabinet members.
Gary Haslett
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Robert Emery, Foothills
The national tragedy of Alex Pretti should never have occurred. That being said, even with a permit to carry, why would anyone bring a loaded gun with extra ammo to a "peaceful" protest? Nothing good could happen.
Robert Emery
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Charles Smith, North side
As someone who has lived abroad in Europe and the Middle East, I find conflicting accusations of terrorism to be misleading, either by citizens accusing ICE agents or, ironically, by the Trump administration labeling ICE victims as terrorists. While the Trump cabal charges are to be expected given their facility for lying to cover their incompetence, what Americans would never have anticipated is being threatened and murdered by fellow Americans acting as mercenaries, i.e. guns for hire, no experience needed. ICE agents clearly see themselves as having free rein to arrest and kill to assert their power, openly defying local police. Many appear to be mentally disturbed - Pretti required ten gunshots to kill him when he could have been handcuffed and disarmed? ICE agents represent the lowest common denominator of human beings imaginable, offered employment by Trump-appointed administration officials whom he defends. This is the level to which America has shrunk under the atmosphere of fear and fanaticism backed by the White House.
Charles Smith
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Cynthia Schiesel, East side
Check out the New York Times. It has frame-by-frame footage of the murder of Alex Pretti. And yes, it's clear that the attack on Mr. Pretti was, from the first moment, an overreaction to Mr. Pretti's attempt to protect a woman who had been shoved to the ground by an ICE agent. The frame-by-frame then shows Mr. Pretti on the ground with 6 agents holding him down. It shows him being hit repeatedly in the head by one of the ICE operatives before they shoot the unarmed man. These videos leave no doubt as to the facts and the lies coming from Washington. I was hesitant to post this for fear of retribution, but silence kills and I cannot allow my America to be turned into another dictatorship through fear.
Cynthia Schiesel
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Vance Holliday, Foothills
Why do we have heavily armed, anonymous, masked, poorly trained paramilitary units in our cities intimidating, roughing up, and arresting people merely suspected of being in the U.S. illegally (a misdemeanor), including U.S. citizens? One was pulled out of her car through the window. Another was marched into the street in his underwear. Two were shot dead. These are the “jack-booted thugs” the GOP once complained about. As recent LTEs noted, Obama deported over 5 million people, Biden a little under 5 million. Very few were hardened criminals nor were they treated as such. No U.S. citizens were jailed, beaten or shot. The racists in the current administration, most notably Stephen Miller and the Commander in Thief, aided and abetted by Noem and others, clearly encourage the violence and cruelty because they want spectacle for their supporters. That is the point.
Vance Holliday
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Mary Wujcik, North side
I read the story about this meeting, I was disappointed in what they had to say & wondering where they got their information. First, no protesters have been paid. They are exercising their Constitutional right to peaceably assemble. Secondly, Renee Good was not blocking traffic. If you watched the video, you could see a vehicle passing her easily on the road and also see she was turning the wheel away from the agent. And Mr. Pretti did not pull his gun on the agents. His gun, which he had a permit to carry, remained in its holster until an agent removed it. He was not threatening agents; he was documenting their activities. Watch the videos.
Mary Wujcik
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Mike Carran, West side
Border Patrol head Greg Bovino says his agents have extensive law enforcement training.
Law enforcement training requires preservation of a crime scene. ICE released a picture of a pistol on a car seat as proof that killing Alex Pretti was justified and proof, he was intent on slaughtering law enforcement officials. A picture of a pistol on a car seat is proof that there is a pistol on a car seat. It is also proof that a crime scene hasn't been preserved.
ICE agents justified the killing of Renee Good falsely claiming she was using her car as a weapon to attack an ICE agent standing in front of her car. Law enforcement training teaches officers not to place themselves in front of a car.
ICE agents aren't law enforcement agents. They're thugs who lie and those lies have destroyed our ability to trust.
Mike Carran
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Saelon Renkes, Green Valley
ICE is no longer functioning as it was originally intended, and instead has become an organization delivering domestic terrorism within the United States. They pick up an occasional undocumented immigrant, and every once in a while they pick up someone with an actual record of criminal violence, but their primary function is now to terrorize the populations in areas that don't support Trump. They are now an organization of domestic terrorism, as defined by the DHS.
For its use of the term domestic terrorism, DHS relies on the definition of terrorism from the Homeland Security Act. It states that terrorism is any activity that
(A) involves an act that—
(i) is dangerous to human life or potentially destructive of critical infrastructure or key resources; and
(ii) is a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State or other subdivision of the United States; and
(B) appears to be intended—
(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
(iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping."
ICE is currently checking every one of those boxes in a concerted effort to bully citizens and local governments.
Congress has a duty to immediately stop all funding of ICE and to withhold it until the agency and its priorities are completely reworked. This is unlikely to happen under the Trump regime, so it will need to be defunded until he is out of office.
Saelon Renkes
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Tamzen Pickard, SaddleBrooke
Given the events of the past few weeks, it might be a good time to review the definition of fascism:
"Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian political ideology marked by extreme nationalism, a strong central government led by a dictator, militarism, and the suppression of opposition, prioritizing the nation/state above the individual. Key characteristics include a single-party state, control over economy and society, aggressive promotion of national or racial superiority, and opposition to democracy, liberalism, and communism, often rising through populist movements promising national rebirth.
At the core of fascism is loyalty to tribe, ethnic identity, religion, tradition, or, in a word, nation."
-- Merriam-Webster
Tamzen Pickard
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Louise Heaberlin-Goff, Vail
Since I was raised to be respectful of those in authority, I’ll be kind. Honestly, though, the first year of your second term -- especially these past 2 months -- has left me challenged. Your overarching goal of ridding the U.S. of the worst of the worst is a noble cause and one which I believe most of us can support. Additionally, I don’t envy ICE and Homeland Security staff tasked with that job.
However, the WH version of what occurred in the deaths of nurse Alex Pretti and Renee Good, mother of three, purportedly domestic terrorists, gives me pause. Vivid and graphic videos don’t support that position. If they’re the worst of the worst, there’s little hope for the rest of us.
Since our Constitutional rights continue to be compromised since the beginning of your 2nd term, I believe the legacy you desire to leave -- much like the Nobel Peace Prize you covet — will be for naught. You can do better.
Louise Heaberlin-Goff
Vail
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Ray Bynum, Northwest side
There has been a love/ hate relationship between LE and Federal since the 1920s (Prohibition). ATF/FBI was hated because Waco (resulting in numerous deaths- including children). IRS and ATF for enforcing against illegal alcohol (moonshine). See Brown vs the Board of Education desegregation of schools in the South in the 1950s and 60s. Most support the federal effort over the past 120 years. Sometimes they don't like the tactics being used. Trust is a big issue – both sides.
Trump and Noem should propose a new federal gun bill similar to CA. It prohibits any weapons to be present at any protest nationwide (enacted after the Kyle Rittenhouse incident). Biggest threat to ICE is the open carry cell phone (camera). Suggest buying more cell phones (camera) to document the incidents. In the last incident, it was the posting of several cell phone photos and videos which allowed the world to view the incident (before the spin). Thank you for posting the incident quickly.
Ray Bynum
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Scott Coverdale, Midtown
In a column of January 24th, Paul McCarthy told us that since Greenland is a handy spot to put missiles and radar stations and since — by the bye — it has lots of mineral wealth, then the United States has an interest — yea, an obligation — to own and control the place. He suggests that critics are trying to “invoke abstract notions of sovereignty while ignoring practical realities.” This is the language of Putin talking about Ukraine, of the Nazis referring to Hungary and Poland and France. It is the language of ambition and greed. Sovereignty is merely an abstract notion?
McCarthy, representing the Heritage Foundation, says, “This is not imperial conquest. It is a strategic consolidation.” Employing an Orwellian euphemism does not change reality. The fact that Greenland/Denmark have something that Trump wants, and finding a rationale for getting it by whatever means necessary is imperialism. The people of Greenland are not fooled by the euphemism. We should not be fooled either.
Scott Coverdale
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Jon Langione, Marana
I called two nationwide investment firms and posed this question. Can I put a stock purchase on my credit card? Neither said no. That is insane. At 12% average interest and 5% in commissions and fees it would take a 17% gain just to break even. In 1999, during the Clinton administration, Glass-Steagall was repealed, allowing commercial banks to invest in securities. That mistake caused the 2008 crash due to the banks borrowing the money to invest, and using depositors' money, creating a fear of runs on the banks. Allowing stocks to be purchased on credit cards could cause a mini-2008 as the ‘investors’ would not be able to keep up with the high payments for the purchase. And there will be no government bail-out to save them. Big mistake.
Jon Langione
Marana
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Donald Reese, Southeast side
When you read the TPD “critical incident reviews” (available online), patterns emerge. Officers show remarkable restraint and heroism when suspects ignore instructions to drop their guns, and typically don’t fire their weapons until fired upon. On Friday, TPD officers wounded an armed man. There will be two investigations about this incident - one by the University of Arizona Police, and one by TPD. I don’t know what the results of the investigations will be, but the point is, the shooting will be investigated.
Trump Administration officials say the two killings in Minneapolis will not be investigated. They immediately slandered the victims as terrorists. ICE and the Border Patrol are blocking Minnesota officials from examining evidence. The videos we have all seen put the lie to the gaslighting by Noem, Bovino, Vance, and Trump. If their agents are acting correctly, they need not fear independent investigations.
Donald Reese
Southeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Margarita Bernal, West side
My LTEs to suggest that ICE's presence in Tucson will be coming have been met with little or ineffective response by local elected officials. A press release from City of Tucson, without notice re: translation for immigrants and an elected official, that is more concerned about the police chief speaking with your reporter, Steller to modify his comments.
AG Kris Mayes has warned that here, in an open carry state, there will surely be clashes with recklessly trained ICE agents. Perhaps we are now seeing what immigrants have had to deal with, the brutality and level/method of enforcement.
Young and old Latino citizens are upset and carrying their passports, expecting the unexpected. City workers are being questioned by brilliant ICE agents who can't see they are driving a City vehicle. Now, another death in Minnesota, an unnecessary car chase on 1-19 resulting in deaths, and the attempt to extort Minnesota officials to turn over their voting rolls, in exchange for withdrawing their ICE troops.
Prepare for clashes and unforeseen tragedy/wrongful arrests in our town.
Margarita Bernal
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Glen Vann, West side
Another senseless killing of an American citizen took place in Minneapolis on Saturday. This one even more violent and indefensible as the last one.
Right on cue, government officials released their own distorted version of events claiming that the victim, Alex Pretti, approached officers with a loaded gun. The only accurate part of their statement was that he had a loaded gun, which was strapped to his hip, but never left his holster until agents removed it from him.
Pretti was filming ICE operations and went to the aid of a woman bowled over by a BP agent. He was tackled, beaten, sprayed, and on the ground when one of the agents saw his gun, grabbed it and moved away. A second or so later, agents opened fire multiple times while Pretti was on the ground. Then, incredibly, backed away from his lifeless body and shot about 4 more times.
That's murder, folks. Plain and simple.
Glen Vann
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Randy Garmon, North side
In Tiananmen Square (Beijing, China) in 1989, one man stopped four military tanks by quietly standing in front of the lead tank. One man. One voice.
With two shooting deaths and the resulting protests in Minneapolis, it seems to me that The Trump Administration, being led by Stephen Miller, is intent on creating chaos through the actions of ICE agents. I fear that the end game is to spread this chaos to other cities throughout our country so as to justify (in their minds) declaring Martial Law … and thereby canceling the 2026 General Election. I may be overreacting, but the prospect of the 2026 election being canceled so that President Trump remains in power scares me.
ICE agents are currently grabbing non-criminal undocumented immigrants off of our Tucson streets.
Because I have reached my tipping point, I choose to join other Tucson citizens taking our concerns to the streets. If you too have reached your tipping point, go to Take Action Tucson for listings of organized protests.
Randy Garmon
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Barbara Liguori, Northeast side
How many more people have to be executed in the streets at the hands of the lawless, out-of-control goons of ICE, supervised by a wannabe Nazi in his military greatcoat, or out of sight in the concentration camps run by DHS, before our spineless “lawmakers” finally stop to this outrage and hold the perpetrators of these crimes accountable?
Trump’s personal police force is trampling the Constitution before our eyes, dragging people out of cars, breaking into their houses, and separating children from parents while he and his complicit sycophants parrot his lies that ICE is going only after criminals in the country illegally and that anyone who protests is a “domestic terrorist.”
The masked goons need only look in the mirror to see the real domestic terrorists.
As Professor Timothy Snyder states, "The lies begin as clichés, memes that are pounded into our heads by the government and by those in the media who repeat them."
Call your representatives in Congress and demand immediate action.
Barbara Liguori
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Barbara Benjamin, Foothills
George Orwell was right? Tod Blanche appeared on Meet The Press (1/25) telling moderator Welk that the public cannot believe what we're witnessing on the filmed ICE violations. Instead, we should believe the administration's assessment. He insisted that local law enforcement in Minneapolis is not supporting ICE in its efforts to police the city. But federal intervention was never requested by the mayor nor by the governor. Why would any law enforcement department aid ICE when the federal purview is not local policing? Blanche blamed the mayor and governor for the killings in Minneapolis. He said protestors had no right to yell at ICE, that they were impeding ICE's function. Interestingly, the US Constitution guarantees the rights of peaceable assembly and protest, it does not prohibit "yelling." Not only do Trump and his authoritarian acolytes want to control what we see and hear, but they want to post and control their own narratives. "1984" is a little late but George Orwell was right.
Barbara Benjamin
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- George Ball, Midtown
On July 4th, Washington D.C. will be renamed as Trump World. Excitement abounds as you experience the all that Trump World has to offer.
Men’s World will allow you to exert your highest masculine fitness to abuse women and anyone else verbally and physically. Bring your wife so that she can be part of the fun.
Women’s World provides the opportunity for women and non-masculine individuals to experience life as a piece of furniture to be kicked around. Doesn’t get any better than this!
ICE World allows wannabe sadists the opportunity to wade into the locals with batons, guns and TASERs with the chance to rough up your choice of protester. With luck you might even get to shoot someone.
King’s World is your opportunity to kiss the butt of King Orange for the small donation of $1M.
Make your vacation plans today.
George Ball
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Tom Van Devender, North side
For decades, conservatives and the National Rifle Association have demanded the right to own as many guns as possible based on the Second Amendment right to self defense and against tyranny. They railed that Liberals would take away their guns over their dead bodies. On January 6, Trump urged Secret Service to turn off the magnetometers to allow gun-toting MAGAs on their way to the Capitol to hear his speech in the White House Ellipse. In March 2020, there were 301,268 legal carry gun permits in Minnesota. VA Hospital ICU nurse Alex Pretti with a cell phone in his hand turned to help a woman slipping on the ice. Both were pepper sprayed and knocked to the ground. While kicking him, an agent took Pretti's legal carry pistol from his waist, yelled ‘gun’, and another agent shot him 10 times. MAGA beware, the Trump’s (not the DEMs) new policy is literally to take your gun from your dead body. So much for our Second Amendment rights.
Tom Van Devender
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Mike Cravens, Marana
As a retired senior military officer, I know war. America is at war -- with itself. The first casualty of conflict is truth. And now, a body count of American citizens. Our true foreign enemies recline, and without effort, let the self-inflicted damage mount.
Founding fathers recognized the only true threat to our democracy experiment would come from within. That threat now emanates from a chaotic, cancer-spewing despot who abandons truth, transparency and accountability.
Whatever the mask of “Make America Great Again” offered, its cost is too great to bear. Judgment Day is coming and until then -- resist. Resist. Resist.
Mike Cravens
Marana
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Robert A. Benzinger, Northeast side
MEMORANDUM
To: The President
From: The Real World
Subject: Foreign Policy
1. Bellowing, bullying, and boasting are not a foreign policy.
2. Your immediate attention to this matter is requested.
Robert A. Benzinger
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Mark Cochran, Green Valley
For years those amongst us that champion the Second Amendment have explained that the need to have unlimited access to guns of all types is to prevent government tyranny. So, in light of the killing of an apparently lawfully carrying VA ICU nurse by an agent working for ICE, a "domestic terrorist" according to our government, I ask: So how's that theory working out for us?
Mark Cochran
Green Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Gary Haslett, SaddleBrooke
Recently, Robert Kennedy Jr. announced he was not taking flu shots anymore. His reason was that he thought his throat problem could be caused by flu shots. Since his early 40s he has had a condition called Dysphonia, which affects his vocal cords. Medical research says that flu shots do not cause this rare disorder. However, Kennedy, in typical double speak fashion, said he could not prove flu shots caused the disorder, but he could not rule it out either.
So he is not taking them and made sure the world knew.
One can take this logic and add a Trump spin. Many people have said that watching FOX News can lower IQ. I am skeptical of that and there is no research to back it up. However, I cannot rule it out either. So I won't be watching FOX News because it could lower IQ.
Gary Haslett
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Richard Harper, Northeast side
There are three general exceptions to our Constitution’s warrant requirement allowing police entry into someone’s home. “Exigent circumstances” meaning matters of life and death, “hot pursuit” officers closely chasing a fleeing criminal who runs into a home, or, voluntary permission of the authorized occupant/homeowner. If I have a criminal arrest warrant signed by a judge and it is the perpetrator's home, the warrant will allow me to enter to make the arrest, but not search the house. If the perpetrator is in someone else’s home, I need a search warrant signed by a judge to go along with the arrest warrant. If the police don’t have permission, they must convince a judge they have probable cause to arrest the person and his location. So why is ICE forcibly entering a person’s home on an “Administrative Warrant” when those involve “civil” violations as opposed to criminal? All professional officers know the Fourth Amendment. ICE should re-evaluate this advice; lawful and ethical policing is paramount.
Richard Harper
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Lawrence E. Mazin, SaddleBrooke
Dear Mr. President,
Few things have preoccupied you more than the Nobel Prize, a fixation so obvious that foreign crises and Venezuela’s suffering risk being reduced to stage props in your personal award campaign.
You should know the first to receive a Nobel Medal as a "gift" without earning it was Joseph Goebbels, who in 1943 received a Nobel Prize medal as a personal gift from the novelist Knut Hamsun. Hamsun so admired Adolf Hitler that he mistook fascism for greatness and propaganda for truth.
After the war, Hamsun was tried in Norway. He avoided prison only because he was ruled criminally insane. He was fined, disgraced, and forever remembered less for his talent than for his moral collapse.
Then there is you, like Goebbels, you weaponize grievance, substitute loyalty for truth, and treat reality as optional. Like Hamsun, you mistake applause for absolution and notoriety for legacy.
The Nobel Committee may never call but history will.
Lawrence E. Mazin
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Rick Cohn, West side
Keeping the Epstein files at bay, DJT risked torpedoing NATO by threatening Denmark with military intervention if it didn't give him Greenland. He has now brilliantly solved that issue with "a framework of a deal" that contains no changes to the existing agreement but leaves our NATO allies with buyer's remorse.
Trump does nothing that doesn't benefit him, and usually only him. It is apparent that his ongoing scheme to stop the Epstein files' disclosure will primarily benefit DJT. Whatever it is that the Epstein files reveal about DJT, it must be extremely damaging political kryptonite for him to have committed this outrageous act of diplomatic suicide in order to distract from that revelation. What outrageously extreme behavior will he resort to next?
Rick Cohn
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Sheldon Metz, Northeast side
Get kick down door stoppers for bottom of doors. Kristi Noem has informed all ICE agents that, despite the 4TH Amendment, they do not need a warrant to ram into your home.
4th Amendment: ‘The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.’
On May 15, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that a law enforcement officer’s use of force violates the Fourth Amendment when it is not "objectively reasonable."
Noem’s rule is overtly unconstitutional and thereby grounds for impeachment.
Sheldon Metz
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Lee Stanfield, East side
The Wall St. Journal article in the Star 01/23/26 said the only way to stop ICE terrorism of our communities is to vote Trump out. This is extremely bad advice. "Trump & Thugs, Unlimited" will either find a way to prevent elections, or to gerrymander, suppress voting, and otherwise rig them in their favor.
That's why the only effective response to an ICE invasion of any state or community is what Minnesota is doing - unified strikes and business shutdowns along with states and communities filing federal and state lawsuits against ICE and against every ICE agent who violates any Constitutionally valid federal, state, or local law.
Unlike protests at ICE kidnappings, strikes and business shutdowns cannot be infiltrated by pro-ICE thugs who disguise themselves as anti-ICE protesters and use violence to help Trump justify sending in National Guard troops.
Lee Stanfield
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Kimball Shinkoskey, Downtown
The President’s new Board of Peace is an authoritarian alternative to the largely democratic United Nations, with himself as the power-monger in charge. Conceived a few months ago as a vehicle to enforce peace in Gaza, it has now been expanded into a new Middle East Order giving Trump power over beefs throughout the region.
Trump announced, “After the Board of Peace is formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want.” When you don’t have to ask the people anywhere for their permission, it is “Peace on earth, ill-will toward men.”
Meanwhile, back in the good old USA, ICE agents in Lewiston, Maine are impersonating plain clothes regular police or hiding in the wings of the porch as neighbors knock on doors to reveal Somali immigrants that ICE then quickly sweeps up.
Folks in America, like in the Middle East, no longer have any role in the government of their country.
Kimball Shinkoskey
Downtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- DAVID E LEON, Vail
The current Republican leader in Pima county told a local news outlet that ICE is arresting illegal criminals. Yet this past week, a 14-year-old autistic boy was released after 50 days in detention. A 5-year-old was arrested because the poor little guy had no ID to prove he was a citizen. And many others who are US citizens being arrested and being abused in custody. I'm a wounded Vietnam veteran, Mexican American, my son is a professional Real Estate photographer, and has darker skin than me. He is worried sick about being arrested, just to meet their 3 thousand per day count. ICE is in Vail today. These people are pardoned criminals with no training. Let's hope our current dictator is overthrown soon by our Military. Then released to one of his favorite dictators, Putin.
DAVID E LEON
Vail
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Daniel McDonnell, Foothills
Norway took five trillion dollars of North Sea oil revenues and made their citizens lives better. They gave their sons and daughters free education; they gave every citizen free health care. Their aging and infirm citizens have comprehensive supportive care. All the people who work, regardless of the job, have a living wage.
Norway is an example of how enlightened leaders make people's lives better, and it is an example of how we could improve the lives of every single citizen of Venezuela. What happens in Venezuela makes a statement about who we are as a country and as a people.
Daniel McDonnell
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Mary Zimmerman, SaddleBrooke
Trump likes to tout himself as a savvy deal maker. This is how it's done. First, you create a crisis like threatening to invade Greenland and slapping illegal tariffs on our European allies. This in turn tanks the stock market. There is push back all around, both domestically and abroad, so you announce you have a "concept of a framework of a deal" and you won't invade Greenland. Details to follow. Crisis is averted and you pat yourself on the back for avoiding the crisis. Pravda, excuse me, Fox News, gushes over Trump's great deal making. Meanwhile, Putin is thrilled over watching Trump tearing apart NATO.
Mary Zimmerman
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Emma Johnson, Downtown
I was disappointed to see that you ran the Wednesday, Jan. 21 column by Froma Harrop blaming absentee fathers for declining birth rates.
Harrop erroneously conflates unpaid child support with a lack of father involvement. Studies find that the majority of fathers who live separately from their children are actively and meaningfully involved in their lives. This is especially true as parenting culture now promotes 50/50 custody arrangements, and a dozen states have passed laws making equal parenting time the legal presumption.
Research finds that fathers want to pay child support but cannot afford to. Harrop leans on the “deadbeat dad” trope, while contemporary families know these men are good fathers who are—like their female co-parents — dead broke.
Moms understand what decades of social science shows: Parenting is more valuable than child support payments. Low-income single mothers increasingly choose not to file for child support, telling surveys that they do not believe payments are fair to fathers who care for and financially support their kids.
Emma Johnson
Downtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Linda Rothchild, Midtown
As the violence becomes worse and worse on our American streets, two thoughts come to me:
1. Whether ICE or in Police Depts., I think they should be called Peace Officers. A simple name change can act as a reminder to start with respect; for the uniform, for the person, for our country.
2. Our sons shouldn't be killing our sons. If so many want to fight, there are lots of places around the world needing our help.
Maybe Aretha was right! R-E-S-P-E-C-T!
Linda Rothchild
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Philip Reinecker, East side
Apparently Trump told a gathering in Switzerland that "If they had not had the United States to protect them during world war 2 they would all now be speaking German". The predominant language in Switzerland is German. Do you ever wonder, as I do, whether Trump ever feels the need to check things out before talking about them? I know, I know, he is so brilliant with his magnificent IQ that he knows all. Unfortunately he believes that but it isn't true. His mind is warped and his intellect is sorely lacking. This man belongs in a care home, with the shades drawn, where he can be tended to and allowed to decline into oblivion.
Philip Reinecker
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Deb Klumpp, Oro Valley
Searching for an appropriate word to describe Trump's incoherent rambling at the recent World Economic Summit, I settled on "cringeworthy". Something beyond "embarrassing" is in order. What did summit attendees think, listening to Trump blather on for 70 minutes, reiterating his Big Lie about the 2020 election (landslide win, won all seven swing states, blatant election fraud occurred, etc.) He denigrated Biden (worst president ever). Inherited a mess. Then, talk of how he can lower drug prices, maybe even 800% (huh?) by getting France to increase their drug prices. Then, on to totally incoherent remarks about housing prices and mortgages that made no sense. Throughout his speech, he repeatedly referred to Greenland as Iceland - not once, not twice, but over and over. I truly think he believes they are one and the same. Mix in a good dose of bragging and threatening force if the spirit moves him. The president of the U.S. showed the world his vast ignorance, stupidity and incompetence. We are the laughingstock of the world.
Deb Klumpp
Oro Valley
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Tim O'Connor, West side
Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, recently stated, “we are in the midst of a rupture,” relating to a new era or world order. Long-standing rules, alliances, and the practice of fair play no longer apply. You may remember the movie “The King and I” with Yul Brenner, who on his deathbed allows his son, the prince to give orders. The initial order is to stop the act of bowing before the king. Out of respect for the dying king, all bow before him. In today’s era, bowing or kowtowing before the current king in D.C. and his administration is the new order. Allegiance to the federal government is without doubt. If you disagree or question, the White House will see you in court or worse, cyberbully you on social media. As the world is being torn by continued mean-spirited rhetoric and actions from our administration, we need to “call foul” and of course, bow to the king.
Tim O'Connor
West side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Sally Wasielewski, East side
A recent LTE asserted that acquiring Greenland was no different than the Louisiana Purchase or the purchase of Alaska. Wrong. The US did not already have a major voluntary military presence in either territory when France (1803) and Russia (1867) voluntarily chose to sell those territories; in neither case was the US breaking an international pact [the UN] of which we are a member; nor were the purchases done in the face of vehement opposition by the populace. Most importantly, in both cases the purchases were effectuated by treaties passed by the Senate. No: to compare Trump's grandiose, bombastic, imperialistic threats to voluntary and willing sales shows a lack of historical knowledge. Of course Trump is hellbent to rewrite American history to glorify himself and erase the past, so it's not surprising his worshippers have swallowed the Kool-Aid, history be damned.
Sally Wasielewski
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Bruce Hilpert, North side
How utterly amazing is our President? After only one day and one speech at Davos he has brokered the “framework” of a deal to claim Greenland! This was apparently negotiated with the Secretary General of NATO, a Trump fanboy.
Unfortunately, NATO does not own Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said no negotiations had been held with NATO regarding the sovereignty of Greenland. Once more we see that Trump works one of his astounding deals by negotiating with an agreeable party, not the necessary participants. Settle the Russia invasion of Ukraine? Talk with Putin and ignore Ukraine. Peace in Gaza? Ignore the Palestinians and Hamas and reward Israel's destruction of Gaza and expansion into the west bank.
Who knows what Trump's framework might include, but I can guarantee you it will be a one-sided deal that does not respect the interests of the people of Greenland and Denmark.
Bruce Hilpert
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Rich Bailowitz, Northeast side
If there were a drop of goodness in Mr. Trump, here's what he could do. Involve Denmark with a pretend takeover of Greenland. Send troops into northern Greenland breathing down Russia's neck. An enraged Putin threatens the U.S. demanding they leave Greenland. Begrudgingly, Trump says we will only leave Greenland if Russia leaves the Ukraine. Both superpowers recede. Then perhaps he gets a Nobel Prize.
Rich Bailowitz
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Jim Christ, East side
Recently, a woman asked me why I was wearing my “RESIST” button as I entered a grocery store. I responded, “Because many Americans can’t afford the Felonious Occupant’s tariffs.” She said, “Things are just fine in my world.”
The woman’s remark reflect the way most MAGAs view their world: They can afford to absorb huge tariff-induced increases in the cost of everything, so who cares about some single mom working as a waitress? They aren’t worried about losing their medical coverage, so who cares about older people who go without a doctor’s care?
They are not affected by ICE raids; There are no armed soldiers patrolling their neighborhoods; They’ll get by just fine after cuts to Medicare. Who cares?,,
MAGA world, courtesy of the Felonious Occupant.
Resist.
Jim Christ
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Dennis Winsten, Northeast side
I am a veteran and remember when veterans who served were respected and not deemed “losers” by a president who dodged the draft. I remember when the government worked for the people and did not pardon violent January 6 criminals. I cannot recall when our government unleashed thugs selectively into states that did not support the Republican president. I remember when Republicans who lost elections were gracious losers. I remember being a Republican Party voter (Goldwater, Nixon twice, Reagan) when the Republicans were fiscally responsible and worked on a bipartisan basis for the benefits of constituents and our country. That is not the Republican Party today. That is why I will support every Democratic Party candidate with money and my vote.
Dennis Winsten
Northeast side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Clay Berger, Foothills
In the January 24th edition of the Star the caption of the photo showed "An FBI seal is displayed Jan. 16 on a podium before a news conference at the field office in Portland". The AP reporter needs to be educated. A podium is a raised platform, such as a stage where speakers wait to speak for instance. The picture is of a lectern, a piece of furniture which a speaker stands behind. One would hope that journalists could get this right.
Clay Berger
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- J. A. Babcock, North side
What is happening today has serious analogies to past histories with how American military and paramilitary forces are being used against American citizens today. First is use of U.S. military against its own citizens. In July 1932 President Herbert Hoover ordered the US Army to forcibly evict WW I veterans and their families from Washington DC, who came to the Nation’s Capital to address Congress. This questionable or illegal use of the military was a significant contributing factor in Hoover’s loss in the 1932 election. A second analogy would be Homeland Security using tactics like those used by Germany in the 1920s to 1945 to eliminate what they claimed were “The people who contaminate the blood of the Aryan Nation.” While in the Trump administration I believe the intent is to try and take away legal protection that is a keystone of our Constitution, the rule of law that is the Judiciary.
J. A. Babcock
North side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Scott Davison, Northwest side
Too little, too late, the Republican Party is truly a disgrace to our Constitution, our American values, our country. If they are going to hold a leadership position in one of our bodies of government, they need to stand tall and start acting like a leader. We need to vote this group of disgraceful, hypocritical Republicans out, replace them with individuals like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who are true Republican leaders. If you can't find a Republican with their values, then vote Democrat so "we" can have the majority and impeach this bunch of lying, cheating scumbags who can't commit to a personal value and have no moral desire to build a country for the people. It is up to us, the people. Don't trust anything they say, it's just a smokescreen to get through the midterms.
I will continue to protest with the good people of America.
Scott Davison
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Don Gerlach, East side
Our ruler talks about using a "massive armada" if (when?) he initiates an attack on Iran. Do the American people really understand -- agree -- that we would be the aggressor in using our resources, military equipment and personnel, to attack another country? Will our ruler be keeping back enough of these resources to support his deployment of ICE and other federal agents within the U.S.? Yoo hoo, Congress, are you there?
Don Gerlach
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Gary Thacker, Midtown
With abusive and unaccountable DHS agents besieging Minneapolis, we now see what the GOP’s fascism looks like. A few elected Republicans have tepidly pushed back, but most of them never will. Elected Republicans are afraid of Trump and his MAGA base. Trump tweets fatwas against anyone who is not sufficiently loyal to him, and the MAGA base makes death threats to the dissenters and their families.
This will not stop unless and until we vote the Republicans out. Do not believe anything Republicans say or promise. They will goose-step to Trump’s orders. Vote them out.
Gary Thacker
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Lawrence Mazin, SaddleBrooke
If Trump’s stated goal is to find and deport undocumented immigrants, the math leaves no room for ambiguity: The focus should be Texas and Florida, not Minnesota. This is not ideology or rhetoric; it is just simple arithmetic.
Current demographic estimates place Texas at roughly 2.1 million undocumented immigrants and Florida at about 1.6 million. Minnesota’s total is estimated at around 130,000. In plain terms, Texas has about sixteen times as many undocumented residents as Minnesota, and Florida has roughly twelve times as many.
The percentages reinforce the point. Undocumented immigrants make up approximately 7 percent of the populations of Texas and Florida, compared with about 2 percent in Minnesota. Any enforcement strategy designed to maximize removals per agent or impact per dollar would naturally concentrate resources where the population is largest.
The conclusion is hard to avoid. This is not an immigration strategy, it is a political performance with its main goal is chaos, violence, intimidation and an excuse to militarize our cities.
Lawrence Mazin
SaddleBrooke
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Hope Gastelum, East side
People push back on analogies between Trump and Hitler; of course, there are distinct differences. Still, Trump is an insecure, swaggering bully who completely disregards anything opposing his "wants." He is ignorant, lies continually, and has an insatiable lust for self-aggrandizement and dominance. He never contemplates long-term outcomes, and thinks in simplistic, often fact-free terms. Trump has not goose-stepped anyone into ovens, but relishes other means of punishing disagreement with him or refusal to support his lawlessness. Though essentially a thug, his methods involve inflicting personal, reputational or financial harm to his "enemies." If others perpetrate physical harm on his behalf, he's pleased. American citizens provided Trump awesome power, not once, but twice. I believe, post Trump, our country will bear a shame similar to that the Germans experienced in the post Hitler years - embarrassment and humiliation because we enabled this awful person as he systematically demolished the once great standing America had in the world.
Hope Gastelum
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Norman Epstein, Midtown
If you have access (directly or through a friend) to the online NY Times, I recommend reading Thomas Edsall’s essay from January 13, 2026 “Trump Unmasked.” It’s a terrific and well researched summary of Trump’s psychopathology with references to the dark triad of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathology — which have particularly surfaced with his ascension to power. His malignant narcissism manifests as poor judgment, lack of inhibition, a total lack of empathy, as well as feelings of omnipotence and a desire to aggressively dominate, aided by a bullying personality. These conditions cause him to never apologize, and show up in escalating displays of dominance, a lack of morality, and a need for never-ending praise which is rarely justified. His “weave” is just word salad, the raving of a disturbed and chaotic mind. As a physician, I say these are legitimate observations and diagnoses, much to my dismay. Read the essay.
Norman Epstein
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Craig Hill, Oracle
Has anybody thought about what if Kamala Harris had been elected? We as a nation would be in a different kind of world. No for the Republicans who would be saying, this too much cultural awareness, we can't support people across the world, even though it saves lives. We would be in a world of "DEI''. We would be people who are respectful of each other, the rhetoric would not be there, there would be no talk of invading Venezuela, nor Greenland. The world would respect us as decent human beings. 75 billion dollars for ICE, but we are paying for that. Let that sink in, when the BBB was passed, how far would that have gone to help with health care insurance? Kamala would not have even thought about enriching herself the way the current person in charge would have. 2 people in Minnesota have lost their lives, how many more, is respectfully to hope not to die.
Craig Hill
Oracle
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
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