Immigration: Treating People like Humans

By: Delonte Harrod

                Within these last couple of months political issues have been heating up. Just in a recent poll it was stated that Obama’s approval rating is down, the Daily Beast issued an article about a month ago gathering sixteen economist giving suggestions that we might need another stimulus. Not to mention these crazy oil spills, in Michigan and of course let us not forget BP in the Gulf Coast, Obama’s Iraq (Afghanistan).

                Although those issues are important for right now I would like, for a temporal moment, to push them to the side. There is one issue that I feel I’ve been asked a lot about; I don’t know why!  I am not an expert on this issue, but as I thought about it I do have a couple of comments to add to this very public topic...immigration!

1. In my opinion the government should issue all individuals who are potentially illegal in the US working visas. This would allow the families who are here to get jobs and legally support their families. In addition, this would allow them time to take the necessary steps in becoming a legal citizen.

2. In addition to the visa’s the government should allow temporary funding to anyone who wants to start a non-profit organization teaching Latinos English. This would allow Latinos to communicate in an English speaking country and enhance their chances in the job market.

3. We should protect the borders from incoming Latinos. The White House has reported that the amount of Latinos trying to cross the border is in decline.  

4. When we as a country feel the need to just start deporting people we are breaking up families. I think that it is inhumane for people to break up families in the name of “up-holding the Law”.  The Tri-personal God has given us family for a reason and it is a gift of common grace. Therefore, to break up anyone’s family is a violation of all humanity.

                A. If our government continues down this path of mass deportation the children of those families will become orphans in the U.S.  And the number of orphans in our country will increase! If that happens there will be more children on the street!

5. Businesses should be held accountable for hiring illegal immigrants who are “new” to the country. Businesses exploit the fact that these individuals need jobs, so they pay them very little for regular labor, which is modern day slavery!

6. Anyone who is not white should be very sensitive to this topic of immigration. America has a history of wanting people out of the country who are not American born! Just food for thought….

“Compassion does not mean that you overlook truth, rather true compassion upholds truth in the law while having a hand to help and uplift” (Delonte Harrod).