To the Editor:

Re “ICE Plan Unfolds, With Late Switch From Wide Sweep to Targeted Raids” (news article, July 15):

At first I thought President Trump was stupid to trumpet the time and place of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. Being forewarned, wouldn’t people hide out? But Mr. Trump thinks like a reality star, and bragging about an upcoming show is par for the course. And if only one in 50 of those on the list is rounded up, that’s more than enough for good TV footage (with the bonus that those who manage to evade capture will live in fear).

For Mr. Trump himself, what could be more perfect for his campaign for re-election? Don’t have to deliver on promises; just have to put on a good show.

Sandy Miley

Sherrill, N.Y.

To the Editor:

Re “Pence Defends Conditions at Migrant Detention Centers in Texas” (nytimes.com, July 13):

After making a visit to a McAllen, Tex., migrant detention center that was so overcrowded that there was no space for all the men to lie down and had a “horrendous” stench, Vice President Mike Pence made two claims: that it was an “ outrage ” to compare those conditions to concentration camps, and that the detention center was “providing care that every American would be proud of .”

Mr. Pence has a good point about concentration camps. But the idea that all Americans would be proud of the care given to detainees — some of whom have been denied basic sanitation for weeks — is alarming. It is an obvious, cynical lie, and it is trumpeted by someone who has made it clear that his adherence to Christian principles is his most cherished trait.