Readers Question Author's ICE Logic

Calls for cleaning up after Biden administration's immigration policies

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A reader letter published in the San Diego Union-Tribune responds to an op-ed criticizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arguing that the agency's conduct has echoes of the Japanese internment camps during World War II. The reader takes an opposing view, stating that undocumented immigrants "didn't get a hello when they came in and they shouldn't get a goodbye on their way out" and that they should simply "have them gone."

Why it matters

This letter reflects the ongoing political debate around immigration enforcement and the role of agencies like ICE, with some calling for reforms and others advocating for more aggressive tactics to remove undocumented immigrants from the country.

The details

The reader letter was published in response to an op-ed that drew parallels between the conduct of ICE and the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. The reader takes a hardline stance, arguing that undocumented immigrants should be swiftly removed from the country without any courtesies or due process.

  • The reader letter was published on February 10, 2026.

The players

Matt Pohl

A reader from Bonita, California who submitted the letter to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Those folks didn't get a hello when they came in and they shouldn't get a goodbye on their way out. Just have them gone.”

— Matt Pohl, Reader (San Diego Union-Tribune)

The takeaway

This letter reflects the deep political divisions around immigration enforcement, with some advocating for a more humane approach and others calling for aggressive tactics to remove undocumented immigrants from the country.