20-04-2025
Trump erases rights with deportation. Fight back, Washington
The Trump administration continues to speed-run authoritarianism. This week, Trump hosted Nayib Bukele, president of El Salvador. Before the event, Trump is on camera telling Bukele, 'Homegrowns are next, the homegrowns. You gotta build five more places.' Instead of being shocked, the people in the room (Attorney General Pam Bondi, Stephen Miller and others) laugh. Gleefully.
In case it's not clear, 'homegrowns' are US citizens, and 'five more places' are El Salvador mega-prisons. The clear illegality of this won't stop the Trump administration. No fewer than four lawsuits are challenging legality of the hundreds of people already imprisoned in El Salvador. The vast majority have no criminal record, in the US or any country. Among the extraordinary legal arguments the Trump administration is making: that the president can get around a writ of habeas corpus, upending centuries of modern law.
'Homegrowns are next' seems like a great reason to get to one of the many nationwide protests. If ever there was a time to meet up in solidarity with other worried 'homegrowns,' it's now.
Lauren Kuehne, Bremerton
I just saw the most recent article on the 'payout' that the ex-Tacoma Police Chief received. This is mind-boggling to me. The city is in such financial turmoil, yet they find it acceptable to pay this man almost $500K just to go away. Unbelievable. He was a poor choice to begin with (thank you, mayor and council). This is on our elected leaders. Shame on you for bringing this to what was once our fine city.
You keep making decisions like these, and our city will soon become another Detroit, everyone will leave, and it will be a ghost town.
Mary Ann Clabaugh, Tacoma
Some months back, I read a Seattle media report that referred to Avery Moore as Tacoma's first African American police chief. I called the reporter to set the record straight: That honor goes to Police Chief James Hairston, who was appointed chief in 1999. Hairston died on Jan. 26.
Hairston replaced an incumbent chief who came to Tacoma with a strong resume and a highly authoritarian leadership style that simply was not a good fit for the department. Hairston, who worked his way up in highly competitive, merit-based process from a Tacoma patrol officer to assistant chief prior to his appointment, had a very different and very people-centered leadership style.
At his memorial service, former colleagues, family members and Chief Patti Jackson praised his ability to listen, his empathy and his respect for others. During his time with the police department, he received the Lifesaving Award, and twice received the department's prestigious Medal of Merit. Hairston, who received his bachelor's degree in law and justice from Central Washington University, was also an accomplished poet. When he retired as chief, after a 33-year career, he left a police department controversy-free.
Bill Baarsma, Tacoma
This week the Trump administration will consider contracting with a private, for-profit corporation to manage the deportation and imprisonment of immigrants. Former Blackwater CEO Erik Prince's 2USV business is seeking rights to fill industrial-scale compounds in El Salvador.
America is already on a slippery, legally questionable and cruel slope. What is being proposed in our name would be a moral nightmare.
Tom Craighead, Vashon
