Miami congresswoman is trying to bring, common-sense real immigration reform to Congress

Miami Herald

28-04-2025

Spot on solution
Re: Maria Elvira Salazar's April 27 op-ed, 'I'm offering a solution to our immigration problem.' Thank you, Congresswoman Salazar, for shedding factual light on yours and other congressional leaders' efforts to bring real immigration reform to the U.S. House floor in the form of proposed legislation. As such, we appreciate you informing us of your proposed Dignity Act.
People need to know that facts and data matter. We should not allow politics to interfere with common sense legislation. We need common sense immigration reform, from leaders with common sense.
Keep doing what you are doing and do not fall victim to the white noise.
Jimmy Tate,
North Miami
Far from home
A family friend who had recently fixed our house floors told me he's moving to Lehigh Acres, a town next to Fort Myers. After moving from Peru and working for 30 years, he realized his dream of buying a home was impossible — if he stayed in Miami.
The Miami Herald has been covering stories like his in 'The Shrinking Middle' series, showcasing how extreme housing prices have pushed people out of Miami. We must advocate for zoning reform; more multi-house units, fewer single-family homes.
Reform, however, isn't about changing our way of life, it's about keeping our culture alive. Affordable, multi-unit housing is about protecting people like my friend — and abuelo and abuela — from being priced out of the city. Today, more of our families are being fractured by Miami's outrageous housing costs, like the aunt who moved to Orlando, the cousin who found work in Tampa, or the brother with the view in Austin.
Miami is nothing without those who built it. If we want to defend our city's culture and keep those who make our city special, we must demand zoning reform.
Angel Aguilar,
Homestead
Pope's message
Pope Francis emphasized that global leaders must not turn their backs on the suffering of migrants and vulnerable populations, calling for greater international solidarity and action. His remarks are a moral reminder that addressing crises at their source, through efforts like global health initiatives, is a shared responsibility.
As Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart plays a critical role in ensuring continued U.S. investment in global health. Ongoing support will uphold America's leadership in promoting humanitarian values and help create healthier, more stable communities abroad. This addresses the interconnected challenges of public health, poverty and migration.
Díaz-Balart's commitment to global health aligns with humanitarian principles and strategic interests. Continuing to champion these programs is not only the right thing to do — it is also smart policy for a more secure and compassionate world.
Ellen Haghighi,
South Miami
Changed stripes?
Reading about Casey DeSantis's Hope Foundation made me laugh out loud. First, the resignations of the Foundation's top two administrators, at a time when they are needed most to help explain what happened. However, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott's statement was most humorous.
In the April 22 Herald online article, 'DeSantis officials with Hope Florida oversight won't get Senate confirmation hearings,' Scott said he wanted to know more about how the state spent money. Scott was CEO of Columbia/HCA, a healthcare company. He oversaw the largest Medicare fraud in the nation's history. Though he was never charged with a crime, before being forced to resign, he took a $10 million severance pay, a five-year consulting contract and $300 million in stock and options. The company eventually went bankrupt.
Is this really the same man who wants to know more about the spiraling Medicare fraud possibly committed by Florida's governor and possibly his wife? Is this really the same Scott or a new and improved Scott?
Perhaps we will never know.
Janet Weller,
Coral Springs
Divert-a-bear
Florida's black bears don't need more bullets — they need better trash management. More than a dozen scientific studies have shown that hunting is not an effective way to reduce human-to-bear conflicts. The real solution is common sense: secure garbage containers, remove food attractants and protect agricultural operations with electric fencing.
Most bear conflicts happen when people leave food and trash unsecured. Bears are smart and opportunistic. If they find an easy meal in an overflowing garbage can, a backyard bird feeder, or an unprotected chicken coop, they'll keep coming back. If there's no reward, they move on. Communities that invest in bear-resistant trash cans and dumpsters see real results — without killing bears.
Killing bears doesn't stop conflicts because hunting doesn't target the specific problem. Instead, it removes random bears from the population, leaving the attractants in place for the next bear to find. That's not management.
Instead of pushing for a hunt, Florida should invest in stronger garbage laws and proper enforcement and support for electric fencing around beehives and chicken coops. These are proven ways to reduce conflicts. Let's stop pretending that hunting is a solution when science says otherwise.
Leslie Sardinia,
North Miami Beach
Tougher teeth
Like chlorine, fluoride is a chemical, not medicine. Baby teeth routinely begin erupting at 6-7 months. Permanent tooth buds are developing underneath and begin erupting between ages 6-13.
If traces of fluoride can be incorporated during dental development by drinking fluoridated water, the outer shell, or enamel becomes a denser, harder substance and more resistance to decay.
Fluoridated toothpastes and topical fluoride treatments are encouraged, but cannot replace incorporating fluoride during tooth development.
Steven P. Willis,
Coral Springs
Fallen prestige
Harvard University, America`s oldest and richest University, has a storied history with countless alumni, including American presidents, Supreme Court justices and many accomplished graduates in business, science and the media.
The respect and prestige Harvard received has diminished over the years as the university embraced discriminatory policies which adversely impacted Asian applicants, as evidenced in the Supreme Court case Fair Admission v. Harvard. The Court ultimately struck down Harvard's admission policies, calling them discriminatory.
In recent decades, Harvard tilted further to the left with more left-leaning faculty members. More recently, were the allegations that the school's administration tolerated anti-Jewish hate and that some students were threatened with violence and intimidation. Congressional hearings highlighted Harvard's tolerance and indifference of antisemitism on campus. In response to its record on these issues, the Trump administration cut taxpayer funding. Efforts are also underway to further tax the university.
Harvard's taxpayer funding could be used for public colleges and vocational schools. Harvard can financially stand on its own. Perhaps these actions will lead to much needed internal reforms.
Tim Seale,
Miami
Time to pivot
With all due respect to Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, now is not the time to cower in a corner and tell us that she is anxious and afraid of retaliation. Nor is it the time to use her 'charm' to get a few scraps of concessions.
This is the time to put on her 'big girl panties' and fight — fight for her home state; fight for her constituents; fight for the United States; fight for democracy!
If she cannot fight, we understand. She should just step aside and let those who are willing and able do the fighting.
Jeannette Garcia,
Miami
Senior discount
Recent news reports state that President Trump's aides are considering $5,000 bonuses to families to reverse declining birth rates and push conservative values.
While on its face this appears discriminatory on account of age, maybe to avoid that claim a discount could be given to senior citizens for just going through the motions?
Harry N. Turk,
Miami