It's the cliched language which grates: "breaking up families," "shocked the conscience," "from their mothers' arms" ("Isolating the Children," Connection, Aug. 22-28). Not one to pass up an opportunity to make political capital instead of offering practical solutions, Del. Ken Plum (D-36) inveighs against separation from their presumed parents of children entering the United States illegally. The sincerity here is a tad suspect since we recall nothing of this censure when separation was practiced, to a degree, by the previous administration.

I suspect the vast majority of illegal immigrants know that their entry is illegal. Unfortunate as they are, children who have made it here across considerable land expanse under uncomfortable conditions can probably tolerate clean beds, tasty meals, TV, and recreational facilities while their illegal parents are being detained.

It is incontestable that the vast majority of Americans want a secure border. Del. Plum offers no solutions to an insecure-border problem. Practical suggestions in place of overwrought language would be welcome.

Oft-stated administration policy is controlled legal immigration. What otherwise: open borders, abolition of ICE?

Harry Locock

Reston