Lots of discussion is happening...on social media, the news, and out in the world...about immigration right now. Some of it is, in my opinion, disturbing. Disheartening. If the news can be trusted (and that's up for debate at this point), then many children are being separated from their parents at the Mexico-US border as their parents try to enter illegally. Some are here trying to seek refuge/political asylum. Again, if the news can be trusted, not only are these children being separated from their parents but they are sometimes being held in camps with bars...the photos make them appear to be much like the internment camps the Japanese were held in during WWII. And so people are discussing this and what should be done. Many are expressing outrage and horror and disgust and asking what can be done to stop this. Many are asking how they personally can help. Some are saying that the parents brought this horror on themselves by breaking the law. They point out that American children are separated from their parents when their parents break the law and are imprisoned. (True. But typically they are either placed with a family member or in a foster home...where ideally they are cared for...not in camps or cages. I know that the foster care system is far from perfect...and there are plenty of horrendous stories of children put in foster care. This is another heartbreaking issue that I wish I could solve. There is just so much suffering in this world. It breaks my heart.)
Here are my current thoughts:
First, the immigration system is horribly flawed. Horribly flawed. And both political parties are to blame. Neither party has really done anything to fix the system. And the system is often misunderstood. I hear people say that immigrants should "wait in line" or recently that they just need to join the club...become citizens...as if they could just head over to their nearest immigration center (like a Costco) and sign a couple of papers, pay $100 or some other reasonable fee and here you go, here are your papers to enter legally. Having had some (although I admit limited) experience with immigration...and having known and loved many immigrants, I attest that it is not that easy. Our laws are biased, bigoted, and the process is confusing and expensive. And it can take years. Even if an American citizen is trying to help someone with the process, it is beyond challenging.
Second, those illegal immigrants that you are speaking so negatively about...they are often your neighbor, your coworker, your child's friend, your religious leader, someone's mother, someone's sister, someone's wife, someone's daughter, someone's friend. They are human beings with the same emotions you experience, but often without the "privilege" you take for granted. (I don't really like that word or the way it is sometimes used...yet I know that privilege is real.) I don't know why I was fortunate enough to be born in this country, and I am grateful. But my heart breaks that so many people experience such suffering, not through any fault of their own but because of the circumstances into which they were born. Why am I so lucky?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued this statement, based on similar statements they have made before: "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has long expressed its position that immigration reform should strengthen families and keep them together. The forced separation of children from their parents now occurring at the U.S.-Mexico border is harmful to families, especially to young children. We are deeply troubled by the aggressive and insensitive treatment of these families. While we recognize the right of all nations to enforce their laws and secure their borders, we encourage our national leaders to take swift action to correct this situation and seek for rational, compassionate solutions."
Many people are speaking out. I don't know exactly what the answer is. But something needs to change.
I know good people on different sides of this issue. Truly good people whose opinions are shaped by their experiences. So I don't want to point fingers or speak angrily or stir up contention. But my heart is breaking that we can't discuss this (and many other issues) without becoming angry and pointing fingers and assuming the worst about those with differing views.
On social media, people have talked a lot about being law-abiding citizens. At least people on my Facebook feed have. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one of the tenets of our religion is “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.” (Article of Faith 12). I've seen people use this Article of Faith to say that illegal immigrants deserve to have their children removed from them because they are breaking the law. My immediate response was to argue (okay...I'm clearly not exempt from arguing and stirring up contention...although I do try to express my views respectfully...but I still have plenty to work on.) I regularly drive about 5 miles over the speed limit...so do most people I know. Does that make it okay? I'm breaking the law even though I believe in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law. So do I deserve to have my children removed from my custody because I'm breaking the law? The beloved family member that I was disagreeing with said I was being ridiculous and of course my children wouldn't be removed from custody. But I think as soon as we begin to excuse one way of breaking the law and not excuse another, we are becoming hypocritical or irrational. Please don't misunderstand. I consider myself a law-abiding citizen. I DO consider myself to be someone who obeys and honors the law. And I think laws are important...I certainly am not advocating for chaos and anarchy. But I also think sometimes laws are unjust and need to be modified. This has had me thinking about laws and about history.
In the Bible, in Daniel 6, King Darius respected Daniel. Darius placed great trust in Daniel, making him the first president who the princes reported to. The other presidents and princes wanted to get Daniel into trouble, and so they convinced Darius to pass a decree that no one could ask a request of any God or man other than Darius for 30 days. This meant that it was against the law to pray. Now Daniel was a law-abiding man...but he also had great faith in God. And so, despite the law, Daniel continued to pray to God. He was caught, thrown in the lion's den and was unharmed. Christians consider Daniel to be a hero, an example of faith and integrity...despite the fact that he broke the law (albeit an unfair law).
I started thinking about George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and our other Founding Fathers. Great men that I believe were inspired by God to found this nation. Yet at the time, the law of the land was that of King George and Great Britain. Writing the Declaration of Independence was treasonous and the patriots who fought in the Revolutionary War, those who participated in the Boston Tea Party, and those who refused to pay taxes and many others (who most of us regard as heroes) broke the law in order to found this great nation.
Harriet Tubman was born a slave. She suffered great persecution under the unjust laws of slavery. Eventually, she escaped to freedom. Then, not being able to bear that others were also suffering, she returned many times and led others to freedom along the Underground Railroad. She broke the law when she fled and she broke the law when she returned and helped others to safety. Each conductor on the Underground Railroad was breaking the law. Each slave who escaped or attempted to escape was breaking the law. Each slave who learned to read or write was breaking the law. Yet I regard Harriet Tubman as a hero.
As I said, I don't know the answers. I do believe in obeying the law. But I also believe in having compassion. I'm not sure, in this issue, exactly where one stops and the other starts. But I do think there must be some more "rational, compassionate solutions."
I think many people who choose to remain in their countries despite incredible hardship are heroes. Those who determine to stay and try to improve their country and to do the best they can under the circumstances they are in are heroic! But I also think it may be heroic to leave behind the only home you have ever known, face hardship and danger, in order to try to make a better life for yourself and your family. I certainly hope that I never have to face that choice. And my heart breaks for all those who do.
Ultimately, I hope this t-shirt that I just purchased can help summarize my role on this Earth and the choices that I try to make:
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