Immigration Fix

We are a nation of immigrants. Each of us. Whether born on American soil or not, each of us has a family tree that spans national borders. For some the chronology may be only part of one generation, or two; for many it is a long chain of generations. Newcomers are still at our gate wanting to be part of us.

History has been ugly regarding American immigration. Sure, we are a nation of immigrants, but those inside the nation have not always been welcoming. Nationalities have been cited as cause for exclusion. Religion was another exclusionary tale. Color of skin yet another. Shameful history, racist, bigoted, and grossly unfair.

Who caused this? Who can we blame? Was it a political party, a religious denomination or sect? Or was it us?

Yes. Us. We are to blame. Those who fear newcomers are spread among us. They are not to blame alone; we who allowed them to speak their bigotry share the blame as well. Remember: good people saying nothing in the face of evil become part of the evil.

America has been a beacon of hope and equality for hundreds of years. The beacon did not always shine bright; no, it was dim at times, and for many, it was dark.

How many people should be allowed to enter our citizenry in any given period allows our country to adapt, absorb and properly manage the influx. That is an understandable procedure, protocol, or policy. But it is a problem if it does not accommodate unusual surges in traffic. Those occur when foreign lands torture, discriminate, murder, or mistreat their people, driving them to seek better opportunities. We are not in control of those causes. We do not govern other lands. We only have our own to deal with.

Immigrants bring us treasured gifts: skills, culture, talents, youth, labor, perspectives, and myriad diversities. We need them all. We benefit from all of them.

The plight of the immigrant – why he/she is at our gateway – is for us to manage. How we welcome and support such yearnings tells the world much about who we are. What we are. Why we are.

Why. We. Are. Think about that. Think about what that truly means. Deeply think about it.

Now, let us find the homes, the beds, the food, and the medical care that welcomes the stranger among us. Let us help them survive the challenges of change so they are self-sustainable. This is what a host does. This is what we are told to do in the Bible for the stranger, the Samaritan. We are not allowed a choice. We must act to fulfill the charge. To do otherwise is to abandon ourselves.

Is that what we want? Are we telling the world that America is no longer the home of the free, the brave and the immigrant?

I think not.

March 19, 2021