To the editor:
Representative Marc Molinaro wants to talk about immigration. Tuesday’s story at www.hudsonvalley360.com, “A campaign for jobs, but numbers differ,” reports that Molinaro criticizes Governor Hochul for ordering a survey of employers willing to hire immigrants with legal work permits.
It’s all part of the GOP narrative that there is an immigration crisis in America. New estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau tell us that the number of people living in the U.S. who were born somewhere else reached a new record last year but few people, least of all Marc Molinaro, are asking why.
Meanwhile, scientists announced this week that 2023 was the hottest year in modern history. It’s interesting to look at the correlation between places where it is hot and the top 10 countries of origin for U.S. migrants: Mexico, India, China, Philippines, El Salvador, Vietnam, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Korea.
There are many reasons that people are willing to leave their homes and make the dangerous journey to our country. But the climate crisis is one of the main contributors, not just because of the growing number of climate disasters, but also due to economic disruptions from extreme conditions.
If Marc Molinaro was really concerned about immigration, he would pay more attention to the climate crisis and less attention to stoking resentment for people who are desperate enough to flee inhospitable living conditions.
John Bennett
East Chatham