Editorials: Neighbors in danger

Our neighbors living here under Temporary Protected Status from places like Haiti, Cuba or Central America are in immediate danger of deportation to places of chaos and mayhem now that the US Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump Administration has the authority to deport them.

The court essentially ruled that temporary does not mean permanent. Homeland Security Director Markwayne Mullin said Sunday that refugees could apply for permanent status under different avenues. Trump advisor Stephen Miller has said that other places are willing to take Haitians and Syrians. Mullin suggested that Haitians could go back to Haiti even though it is too dangerous to land an airplane there. Can you imagine sending somebody back to Cuba, which lacks basic food and fuel necessities under a US embargo intended to effect regime change. Or, can you imagine sending somebody into the destruction of Venezuela?

It is cruel and unusual.

Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine, a Republican, says that Haitians are essential to rebuilding his state’s economy. Recall that the Haitian residents of Springfield were maligned by Trump’s specious claims of kidnapping and eating their neighors’ cats. Dewine explains that Springfield needs people, just like Storm Lake and Denison do.

Temporary Protected Status is designed to harbor refugees until their native country is made safe. Haiti and Syria are in states of civil war and deprivation. Cuba is starving. Venezuela is in rubble. Forcing people into those environments is dangerous and mocks the idea of liberty. Yes, the president has the authority to deport, but should he?

The court also ruled in favor of a plan to lock out refugees seeking asylum. It is already in effect, as the border was locked down by Mexico some time ago. The court merely puts an exclamation point on the statement that America is a fortress that shall not be penetrated by those seeking freedom and relief from persecution. That is quite a reflection as we celebrate Independence Day. It also is worth noting that three justices voted in favor of ending birthright citizenship. Those three (Alito, Thomas and Gorscuch) should reread the 14th amendment: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” Plain English.

Iowa in play

Democrat Josh Turek and Republican Ashley Hinson are in a virtual dead heat for the US Senate seat held by Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican who is retiring after 12 years. A poll by Global Strategy Group, a firm aligned with Democrats, found Turek leading Hinson 47-45 percent. That’s not terribly surprising, as Hinson has been an ardent Trump loyalist as a congresswoman — and Trump is not doing well in Iowa.

The poll finds Trump with a 45% approval rating, with a 52% disapproval rating. He is 28 points under water with Independents. Hinson has complained that the Iran war is dragging her down as she now tries to keep some distance from Trump. Turek will remind voters regularly of Hinson’s fealty to Trump.

Other polling finds Democrat Rob Sand in a good position heading into a campaign against Republican Zach Lahn. Sand has a ton of cash and strong ads portraying the unknown Lahn as a carpetbagger who lives in Kansas.

Trump’s standing will be a weight on both races. Iowans expect that their senator will be a check on a reckless administration that has fouled export markets and increased costs through a war that took us backwards. They are tired of our lagging economy, deteriorating health care system and polluted water, all of which occurred under Republican control.

Hinson is not well-known in conservative Northwest Iowa, crucial to Republican turnout in November. Turek benefits from big spending in his primary campaign that shows him as a relentless campaigner in his wheelchair pumping uphill.

“Republicans maintain substantial advantages in voter registration and party identification, yet Turek enters the general election ahead of Republican Ashley Hinson, with stronger personal favorability ratings, overperforming a generic Democrat, and with clear opportunities to expand his coalition as more voters become familiar with him,” a polling memo states.

Polls this early tell us little about November. They tend to buttress a view that voters are anxious for change, and that Democrats in Iowa stand a chance. Trump’s relative strength remains evident as his favorability in Iowa is 10 to 15 percentage points better than the national polling. The president already is talking about beefing up farm payments ahead of the election. If Turek wins, the Senate flips and Trump’s agenda is in the tank. Trump will do anything to prevent that outcome.