By Barbara Bartlein, RN, MSW

After listening to Trump’s recent speech, I agree that there is a humanitarian crisis. But it’s not at the border. It’s right here.

It’s the millions of people in the U.S. that are being affected by the government shutdown. Not just federal workers, but their children, families, and friends. It’s families waiting for loans, food stamps and assistance that they were promised. It’s the contractors and workers who provided service in good faith and now can’t feed their families. This humanitarian crisis was created like a segment on a reality TV show.

Of interest, is the majority of Americans don’t want the wall. Many of us do not feel danger from the desperate men, women and children fleeing violence looking for a better life. They are only attempting to do what my grandparents did many years ago; immigrate for better opportunities.

While more resources need to go to ports of entry to combat the drug trade, I am actually more concerned about McKesson and other distributors flooding the markets with opioids. That is the real drug epidemic in the U.S. and it has been protected by Congress.

After six people were shot and killed across the street from my house and my son held up at gunpoint, I am very frightened about gun violence in my community. What happened to the talk about that? Congress has done nothing.

Yes, we have a humanitarian crisis. But it is right here.