Color me skeptical:
US Security Chief Strives To Expel All Illegal Immigrants
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said his department aims without exception to expel all those who enter the United States illegally.
"Our goal at DHS (Homeland Security) is to completely eliminate the 'catch and release' enforcement problem, and return every single illegal entrant, no exceptions."
As a Christian, the subject of immigration presents somewhat of a dilemma for me. I fully support an open immigration policy for any immigrants who come to this nation legally. We have no right to refuse immigrants who want to come to America and enjoy our freedom and opportunities. Frankly, there is no nation like this one on Earth, and God gave mankind a divinely-inspired yearning for freedom and for a sense of purpose. And we have no right to deny that to anyone who wants it.
On the other hand, the US has a serious problem with illegal immigration and lax enforcement of existing immigration laws. These policies endanger our citizens and place a heavy financial and legal burden on our nation. And they also allow unscrupulous employers to take advantage of illegal immigrants, who are often hired to perform the most unsafe jobs in our workplace simply because their employers know that illegals can't complain without running the risk of being deported. Such a disregard for human welfare and safety is immoral, plain and simple.
Is deportation the answer? Maybe, but as Christians we must remember that the Bible is very clear in its teachings that we are to care for the poor, specifically the widow, the orphan, and the sojourner in our midst. Returning someone to a state of suffering doesn't seem like a sufficiently just response to the problem of illegal immigration. There should be a better way for Christians to support the written law of the land, while remaining advocates for the least of those among us.
But the fact that Michael Chertoff's statement so thoroughly contradicts existing Bush administration policies and proposals means that even reasonable commentary is difficult.
Do I see the deportation of "every single illegal entrant" happening? Well, if a picture says a thousand words ...
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