Letter: Trump lets real criminals go while punishing the innocent

President Donald Trump claims Immigration and Customs Enforcement is deporting only dangerous criminal immigrants, but the Cato Institute says only 5% have criminal convictions. Many jumped through every legal hoop to get citizenship, including our Afghan military allies, but get deported anyway.

Real criminals have been freed by Trump’s pardons and commutations. Of the 1,570 pardoned criminals from Jan. 6, 2021, 608 had been charged with violently attacking law officers, and 33 have been arrested for other crimes. Jared Wise shouted calls to kill the police. Now he’s a senior adviser in the Justice Department.

Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht was serving a life sentence in prison for trafficking phenomenal quantities of drugs and money laundering. Trump pardoned him. He was a guest of honor at Trump’s address to Congress last March.

With no legal basis, only accusations, Trump had Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro kidnapped for drug dealing. Former Honduran president Juan Hernandez was legally extradited here, convicted of trafficking 400 tons of cocaine into America and sentenced to 45 years in prison. Trump pardoned him.

Binance founder Changpin Zhao was jailed for massive money laundering. But Forbes says Zhao bought 87% of Trump’s crypto company, World Liberty Financial, and the president pardoned him.

Todd and Julie Chrissley, Marian Morgan and Trevor Milton were convicted of massive fraud. They all got Trump pardons, so they don’t owe restitution.

Trump’s criminal friends get pardoned, not deported.

Jane Beck

Brecknock Township