Sheriff Garrett, toss divisive agreement
Sheriff Austin Garrett, you were on board early with President Trump’s immigration agenda, posing for pics with new FBI Director Kash Patel and talking up how ICE training and equipment would help HCSD.
ICE holds tripled year-over-year starting in February and March, and that was before you signed the 287(g) agreement. We haven’t seen newer numbers.
Sheriff, tell us about the immigrants coming into your detention center under this agreement.
How many match the president’s characterization of them as gangsters, robbers, murderers and rapists?
More than a few, no doubt. You’re the chief law enforcement officer in a major commercial, industrial and transportation hub involving three states. We just observed the 10th anniversary of the Fallen Five — we know the threats are real.
But how many of those immigrants brought in are taxpaying community members who’ve committed no real crime except wanting to live, work and raise families here?
Most folks in Hamilton County get along fine with our immigrant neighbors, who we live, work, play and do business with.
I’m asking you to toss that ICE agreement and work to ensure every Hamilton County resident can rely on equal protection under law.
Judy Walton
Hixson
Today’s Senate no profile in courage
In 1955, then-Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts wrote profiles of several former senators who had displayed remarkable commitment and loyalty to the Constitution, often at the risk of their political careers. He called the resulting book “Profiles in Courage,” and it is still read and regarded as a classic 70 years later.
As we watch the Republican majorities in the House and Senate obediently vote for every bill supported by Donald Trump, often without regard to their past positions and openly stated beliefs, we should ask ourselves what the title of a book written about today’s GOP would be: “Profiles in Cowardice”? “Profiles in Complicity”? “Kowtowing to the Chief”? Whatever the title, we have to hope that in 70 years time there will still be a United States in which such a book can be studied as a chronicle of shame and lack of conviction.
David Cofield
LaFayette, Georgia
America is enduring second Trail of Tears
History repeats itself. In the 1830s, armed soldiers began forcing Native Americans in the Southeast U.S. to move west, forcing them into stockades. Some were transported in wagons, but many were forced to walk. Those charged with feeding them stole most of the money intended for meager rations, so they were malnourished. Many died — thus the moniker Trail of Tears. Due to their supposedly sensitive nature, young children probably won’t hear about this dark page in our history (DEI), so they won’t be upset by it. One congressional Tennessean vigorously opposed the Indian Removal Act. That would be Davy Crockett. Racist Tennesseans voted him out of office. Where is that courage today?
Today, racist and xenophobic policymakers in the present administration are repeating history. We are in the midst of another trail of tears. They are telling us [immigrants] are all rapists, murderers and gang members. That just isn’t so. If it were, writing this would be unnecessary. Being in this country illegally is a misdemeanor. I ask what other misdemeanor is punishable by being banished to Haiti or South Sudan? Our ancestors will look upon this period in history just like we look back on the Trail of Tears.
Tom Jenkins
Soul of democracy going up in flames
Donald Trump’s administration recently spent $130,000 of our taxpayer money to burn 500 tons of emergency food aid — already paid for, already packed and desperately needed by 1.5 million starving children. This administration plans to spend another $167,000 to destroy $10 million worth of contraceptives for women in Africa. Why? To serve a political agenda rooted in control, not compassion.
And yet, Trump and his enablers — including Marjorie Taylor Greene — call themselves pro-life?
This is Project 2025 in action: a blueprint to dismantle public programs and inject ideology into every federal agency. They aren’t just burning food overseas, they’re gutting it here at home.
How is that pro-life?
I’ve been a teacher. I’ve seen children dealing with hunger. Jesus didn’t destroy food or deny care. He multiplied loaves and healed without question.
This isn’t fiscal responsibility. It’s theocratic cruelty. And when people stand by in silence — or worse, in support — they reveal the truth: This movement is not about life. It’s about power in the meanest sense.
The American people must reject it. Because what’s being burned isn’t just food — it’s morality, mercy and the soul of our democracy.
Betty Gray
Trenton, Georgia
US support of war in Gaza unforgivable
A recent TFP article, “Israeli forces push into parts of a central Gaza city that the war had largely spared,” describes how the Israeli military continues bombing and killing Palestinian civilians, making life intolerable for them in their own land. Unfortunately, even criticism from 25 Western countries condemning Israel for inhumane killing does not make a difference, perhaps because the U.S. continues to faithfully serve as Israel’s lackey, enabling Israel’s atrocities by financing, arming and giving them diplomatic cover as they commit genocide in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu appears to somehow control President Trump, despite the fact that Israel probably could not exist but for the unqualified support of the U.S. Is it the Jews or the evangelicals, or both, which control our government, even to the point where it is apparently willing to go to war for Israel, a cruel country which has never done anything for us?
Doris Rausch
Tullahoma
Call us by our name — UTC
After watching the Mocs/Adidas debut the 2025 uniforms on Local 3 News on Monday, I discovered that I graduated almost 50 years ago from the University of Tennessee at Scenic City — since that’s how the home jerseys will be adorned.
Scenic City is a long-standing and deserving moniker for our hometown and so much more. But our school is Chattanooga. Athletes are told to play for the name on the front of the uniform, which should be UTC or Chattanooga. The UTC Mocs proudly promote our great university.
Marketing keeps infringing on so many aspects of our lives. But “Scenic City” Mocs? Does that mean we’ll soon see the “Bluff City” Tigers playing the “Queen City” Bearcats or the “Steel City” Panthers battling the “Magic City” Hurricanes on the gridiron?
Go UTC Mocs!
Daniel Duncan
Hixson