Visas for Sale

 

The alleged misappropriation of up to $200 million, reported in your April 15 and 16 editions, by the developers of Jay Peak is the sad result of an ill-conceived, little-known feature of the 1990 Immigration Reform Act. The EB-5 visa program was intended to spur employment and development in distressed areas by selling U.S. immigration visas to wealthy foreigners for $500,000 “invested” in such projects. Over 10,000 “green cards” are now issued annually to foreigners (85 percent to Chinese citizens) who thereby buy U.S. residency. Since “green cards” rather than investment is their basic interest, the EB-5 program provides free money to U.S. promoters who undertake no legal obligation to provide a return on their five- to seven-year “investment.”

Inevitably, as Sen. Patrick Leahy recently pointed out, “developers drew maps in any shape necessary to connect an affluent area with enough distressed areas … (so that) Beverly Hills can be considered just as distressed as Detroit.” The program has funded luxury projects from New York City to Los Angeles. Money laundering is but another concern.

The program is also defective for having no oversight by a financial regulator.  The Immigration Service processes visas but is unequipped to evaluate a job creation plan.  The SEC has the power to police fraud, but has no mechanism to sniff it out.

Leahy is renewing efforts to “fix” the EB-5 abuses. It needs more than that. Lost in the reform effort is the impropriety of the federal government selling visas — on a par with Third World island tax havens. The right to immigration should not be for sale.

Roland Kuchel

Retired U.S. Ambassador

West Fairlee

Unwarranted Fear About Spraying

 

James Minnich’s concern over power-line spraying (Forum, April 16) deserves a fact-based reply.  As I have pointed out several times since 1983 (e.g., May 19, 1983; July 7, 1984; July 13, 1989; Aug. 10, 1989), the carbon-based organic chemicals used by Green Mountain Power in the Upper Valley to kill weeds and scrub trees under power lines are safe.  The science is clear on this.  These three modern herbicides, Krenite S (fosamine ammonium salt), Polaris (imazapyr isopropyl amine salt), and Garlon 4 Ultra (triclopyr), selectively prevent growth by blocking DNA synthesis in plants, but not in animals.

Plant biochemistry is distinct from ours. Moreover, these chemicals degrade in the environment (by sunlight and soil bacteria). They do not bioaccumulate or invade ground water, and they exhibit low acute and chronic toxicity to humans and wildlife. For example, Krenite S is seven times less acutely toxic than table salt in rats, and Polaris has a soil half-life of three to five days.  

Mr. Minnich’s egregious attempt to smear Dow Chemical by linking these herbicides to Agent Orange is shameful. Ironically, triclopyr was developed to replace 2,4,5-T, one of the chemicals in Agent Orange.  For the record, Dow was only one of seven chemical companies to synthesize Agent Orange.

These three herbicides, when applied responsibly on power-line routes, pose no threat to humans, animals or other wildlife.  

Gordon W. Gribble, Ph.D. 

The Dartmouth Professor of Chemistry

Hanover

Missing in Action 

 

As a local elected official on the Co-op board, I would like to apologize for my absence from the annual meeting that many members attended. I had a health issue that kept me out, but I do not see this as preventing my continuing my term.  However this turned out to be an unhappy coincidence, as the two other newly elected directors were also missing in action. I will speak for the others in saying that this most certainly was not meant with any disrespect, and I hope to assure you that we remain devoted to representing your membership for the Co-op.  

 Victoria C. Fullerton

Norwich

My Experience at the VA

 

Many letters have been written in regards to the VA; here is mine. When my husband went to the VA, I don’t remember him ever having to wait for an appointment. In fact, he complained about too many appointments.

When he was in the hospital, the doctors, nurses, cleaning people and kitchen help all went out of their way to try to help him. Every trip to the emergency room, no matter the time of day or night, he was treated with concern and respect.

All patients are different, have different needs. These people somehow deal with what is going on with that person’s health both physically and mentally.

It takes a lot of people to make it work for everyone. I want to say thanks to them all and Father Patrick who was always there.

Dot Murphy

Hartland