Tucson speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Apr. 17, 2026
- Updated
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Arizona Daily Star.
- Tom Furlong, East side
Thomas Friedman of the New York Times states that, though important for the US to defeat Iran, he is hoping against victory because it gives Donald Trump a “win.” Meanwhile, media sources state that they were aware of allegations of Eric Swalwell’s abuse of young female staffers but did not want to report on rumors and speculation (though that issue never stopped them from reporting on spurious allegations directed towards Republicans and especially the president). No wonder the American public utterly distrusts the legacy media.
I wonder if the local and national media are either not investigating allegations of abuse or are sitting on stories connected to other elected Democrats, including a Senator who was nicknamed “Troll” due to his behavior towards female staffers while serving in both his state legislature and the U.S. Congress…
Tom Furlong
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Dennis Rivera, Foothills
When does this landslide garbage regarding the 2024 election end? President Trump won the popular vote by only 2.3 million votes. In 2020 Biden won by 7 million votes. In our divided country that's the definition of a landslide. By the way, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in 2016 by 2.9 million votes. Is that a landslide Mr. President? Your thin-skinned ego is crushing the soul of this country. I only hope I live long enough to see you go away.
Dennis Rivera
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Tom McGorray, Northwest side
I believe that birth tourism is real.
Birth tourism is when pregnant women come to the U.S. on a tourism visa in order to obtain birthright U.S. citizenship for their newborn child.
Thousands of women stayed in hotels for their last few weeks of pregnancy to illegitimately and illegally obtain U.S. citizenship for the child.
The exact number is unknown.
In 2020, the Center for Immigration Studies estimated the possible number of birth tourism cases at 20,000 to 26,000 per year.
In 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 9,576
births in the U.S. to foreign residents.
In 2019, federal authorities indicted 19 people in connection with running
birth tourism operations in Southern California catering to Chinese
clients. The undercover operation detailed how operators coached pregnant
Chinese customers to trick consulate and customs officials and get tourism
visas, and to mask their pregnancies.
Other birth tourism operations have been identified in Miami.
I strongly think birth tourism should be investigated.
Tom McGorray
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
More like this...
- Tom Furlong, East side
Thomas Friedman of the New York Times states that, though important for the US to defeat Iran, he is hoping against victory because it gives Donald Trump a “win.” Meanwhile, media sources state that they were aware of allegations of Eric Swalwell’s abuse of young female staffers but did not want to report on rumors and speculation (though that issue never stopped them from reporting on spurious allegations directed towards Republicans and especially the president). No wonder the American public utterly distrusts the legacy media.
I wonder if the local and national media are either not investigating allegations of abuse or are sitting on stories connected to other elected Democrats, including a Senator who was nicknamed “Troll” due to his behavior towards female staffers while serving in both his state legislature and the U.S. Congress…
Tom Furlong
East side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Dennis Rivera, Foothills
When does this landslide garbage regarding the 2024 election end? President Trump won the popular vote by only 2.3 million votes. In 2020 Biden won by 7 million votes. In our divided country that's the definition of a landslide. By the way, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in 2016 by 2.9 million votes. Is that a landslide Mr. President? Your thin-skinned ego is crushing the soul of this country. I only hope I live long enough to see you go away.
Dennis Rivera
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
- Tom McGorray, Northwest side
I believe that birth tourism is real.
Birth tourism is when pregnant women come to the U.S. on a tourism visa in order to obtain birthright U.S. citizenship for their newborn child.
Thousands of women stayed in hotels for their last few weeks of pregnancy to illegitimately and illegally obtain U.S. citizenship for the child.
The exact number is unknown.
In 2020, the Center for Immigration Studies estimated the possible number of birth tourism cases at 20,000 to 26,000 per year.
In 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 9,576
births in the U.S. to foreign residents.
In 2019, federal authorities indicted 19 people in connection with running
birth tourism operations in Southern California catering to Chinese
clients. The undercover operation detailed how operators coached pregnant
Chinese customers to trick consulate and customs officials and get tourism
visas, and to mask their pregnancies.
Other birth tourism operations have been identified in Miami.
I strongly think birth tourism should be investigated.
Tom McGorray
Northwest side
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
More like this...
Most Popular
-
U.S. to drastically alter Colorado River releases, Arizona officials warn
-
As Arizona basketball chases big men for 2025-26, transfer portal gets even pricier
-
Tommy Lloyd's recruiting chops nationally known | Greg Hansen -
Lloyd to get clarity on Arizona basketball future this week | Greg Hansen
-
Tucson police activity leads to huge I-10 backup
