I descend from Irish immigrants who sought a better life in the United States in the early 20th century. Politicians and publishers stereotyped them as violent, unintelligent drunks. Today their descendants rarely if ever face such discrimination.

As Dutchess County Legislator Joe Incoronato (Wappinger) reminded us in The Poughkeepsie Journal recently (“Giving sanctuary to illegal immigrants undermines public safety”) our Latin American neighbors are not so fortunate. In an ugly, divisive letter celebrating the transfer of 24 unidentified people to federal immigration authorities, Mr. Incoronato characterized immigrants as “vicious predators” and claimed that Sanctuary Cities threaten public safety.

Mr. Incoronato’s message and its underlying false premises are the real threats to public safety. …

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