I am outraged that Rep. Molinaro, who ran on the promise of bipartisanship, is using the influx of asylum-seekers to our community to stoke fear and division by spreading lies about the flow of illegal drugs into this county. 

The expiration of Title 42 is not a policy failure, but a reversion to our legal and moral obligations. Instead of blaming asylum seekers, he should be addressing the real issues in our communities.

Undocumented immigrants are not the cause of fentanyl flowing into this country. U.S. citizens are responsible for 86 percent of fentanyl trafficking convictions in 2021, and more than 96 percent of fentanyl seizures along the border since the start of fiscal year 2023 have been at legal U.S. ports of entry.

The expiration of Title 42 has not brought “chaos at the border.” The number of migrants at the border has decreased by 50 percent since the expiration of Title 42. President Biden has done as much as he can, outside of Congressional action, to ensure safety for legitimate asylum seekers and to communicate to migrants that they will face harsh penalties for trying to cross the border without authorization. 

There are many who feel that Biden’s process is too harsh and restrictive, but at least he is trying to instill order while maintaining our international obligation and dedication to supporting human rights—until Congress begins to live up to its responsibility to redesign a fair and compassionate immigration policy that makes sense in today’s world.

Instead of joining the extremes in his party—blaming migrants—Molinaro should be addressing the real issues in our community and the nation, like the lack of services for our homeless veterans, the extreme dearth of affordable housing for middle- and low-income people, and the tsunami of gun violence that is devastating our country.

Kathie Aberman, Liberty, NY

Debra Fuchs Nadeau, Liberty, NY

Judy Balaban, Bethel, NY

Matt Pozorski, Ellenville, NY

Barbara Uhrie, Loch Sheldrake, NY

Christine Saward, Phillipsport, NY

Debbie Gillies O’Malley, Liberty, NY

Andy Weil, Phillipsport, NY