Editor,

What has happened to our national honor?

I read with horror the May 14 letter to the editor from the Trowbridges, describing how in April several thousand Afghani refugees who had resettled in the U.S. were told “if you do not depart the U.S. immediately you will be subject to potential law enforcement actions.” These people had worked for the U.S. Army and, as a consequence, were being targeted by the Taliban and fled their country to save their lives. In gratitude, American communities including Whidbey have sponsored these people since 2021, and after comprehensive and continuous vetting most have assimilated beautifully into their lives here.

To be told that they must now immediately leave the U.S. with nowhere to go, in spite of the aid they gave to our armed forces, is the very definition of dishonor to our nation. It says that the word of the United States no longer means anything, which puts our soldiers in other countries at risk and cheapens the values which have defined national service. I am embarrassed on behalf of our country — are we really not better than this?

Julie Glover

Clinton