Ten Thoughts on Immigration and Freedom

I am not an expert on immigration. But, my friendships with immigrants are important to me. I think most folks in our country want the USA to be a friend to immigrants. I think many people in the Judeo-Christian faith tradition (which I am a part of) want our congregations to be friends to immigrants. If that is our goal, it seems that the usual debates in the mainstream media are not helping us. I suggest we need to start from different perspectives. What if we started with:

1- For Christians: Matthew 25:31-46.  Jesus identifies himself with the most vulnerable. If we love and serve Jesus we must focus on loving and serving vulnerable people. 

2- Immigration is not usually anyone's first choice. People normally prefer to stay in their homelands.The most effective way to reduce immigration is to work to improve conditions in all countries. If conditions are OK at home, most people will not leave.

 

3- The most effective way to reduce illegal immigration, is to make legal immigration easier. 

 

4- People have innate rights, not countries or borders. Countries have no innate right to keep out non-violent workers, children, or refugees. Non-violently crossing a border is not immoral.

 

5- Countries have the responsibility to protect their people from hostile military forces, and criminals, border security is one tool to accomplish this. Protection from hostile military forces and criminals should be the primary and limited purpose of border security.

 

6- Militarization of borders is dangerous for everyone. Border militarization is often a characteristic of violent, oppressive states such as North Korea.

 

7- Militarized borders benefit criminals by creating a new product for smugglers. As Al Capone gained power from the prohibition of alcohol, so do cross border smugglers gain power from the prohibition of non-violent immigrant workers, children, and refugees.

 

8- If capital and corporations move across borders, workers will move across borders as well.

 

9- Our country, our planet, and our universe are filled with an abundance of good things. There is more than enough for everyone. If this doesn't seem to be the case, it is an illusion created by injustice or poor distribution of resources.

 

10- Countries have the responsibility to remediate harm which their policies or economies have caused.

 

Does any of that seem helpful? Sometimes, when I have strong feelings about an issue, I make a song about it. But, right now I am trying to focus on releasing an album. So I thought I'd try  typing out some thoughts using sentences instead. I hope that the audience that is coming together around this Guagua project, is a community of folks that welcome thoughtful and loving discussion. Pues, avisame que piensan ustedes.

 

Peace, Blessings, and Thanks for Listening,

 

Marcos

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