Rockingham County should not jail ICE detainees

Sept 21 − To the Editor:

The decision to turn Rockingham County Jail into an ICE detention site is not a budget decision. It is a test of our moral fortitude. Many detained have committed no crime. They are punished for seeking safety, for trying to live without fear, and for following the law as best they can. Many of them are upstanding members of their communities, working, raising families, and contributing to society. This is not justice. It is punishment for vulnerability, for being human.

Some county officials argue that because the jail is only half full, leasing beds to ICE makes financial sense. But a half-empty jail is not a problem to solve. It is a sign that fewer people are behind bars. That is progress. Jails should never be

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