I write to thank the people of Hawaii for sharing their outstanding U.S. Senate team of Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz with the people of Texas.

I wept this week when I learned of the death of 7-year-old Guatemalan asylum seeker Jakelin Caal Maquin approximately two blocks from my house at Providence Memorial Hospital in El Paso, after she had been in the custody of the West Texas sector of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Recently, Hirono was here in Tornillo, Texas, trying to exercise oversight of the refugee children’s prison camp. Schatz also has been here before and has spoken out against this unspeakable cruelty. While sadness fills my heart, I say to the kind people of Hawaii, mahalo nui loa.

Maria I. Hernandez

El Paso, Texas

A kinder, gentler time

In the spirit of this holiday season, and after what some consider a particularly divisive election year, we invite you, dear readers, to write in about kindness — something so special, touching or positive that it should be shared with our community.

Send a 150-word letter, or a commentary at 500-600 words, to letters@staradvertiser.com by Dec. 19 evening. A collection of these will run on Dec. 23, just before Christmas.

Click here to read more Letters to the Editor.