To the editor:

First, a reminder to Mr Platz and the Journal editorial staff: The title of Mr Platz’s letter to the editor of 7-31-25 referred to an “AP poll” when in fact it was about a Gallup Poll in an AP article.

Regardless of a reader’s opinion of Associated Press articles, the Gallup Poll is a highly respected organization for factual information. Mr Platz’s words of caution are warranted regardless of the source of articles and information. Thanks for the reminder.

Taking Mr Plaz’s words to heart, I watched the video mentioned. I also looked up Mr Roy Beck. I would encourage others to do the same. Among Mr Beck’s beliefs (going back to 1996 when this presentation originated) is immigration is improperly promoted as a method of alleviating world poverty and the only way to effectively alleviate world poverty is to provide help where people live. While I don’t agree with much of Mr Beck’s theories, I do agree with these two. It’s a shame and embarrassment that the USAID program has been eliminated — and eliminated at great cost to the American taxpayers to destroy food and other materials already promised to our partner nations.

Mr Beck’s use of the word “deserving” as related to those allowed to legally enter the United States is a clue to his world view. His claim that people who choose not to immigrate are able to be “agents of change” and “heroes” in their home countries rings false. For more information about the history of immigration and Mexico, I suggest you read “The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez” written by Aaron Bobrow-Strain in 2019. This book provides the real stories of people living in the border area with a solid dose of well documented historical facts.

I believe due process is not a concept only favored or mentioned by Democrats. Lack of due process is what created the grave errors in the deportation efforts currently underway. Due process is a human right the United States can well afford to give citizen and non-citizens.

Beth Zabel

New Ulm