Recently treatment of illegal, undocumented immigrants has been all over the news. It has been a hot button political issue, and has even lead to a lawsuit against the state of Arizona for trying to keep Mexicans away from the border. I feel like everyday there is a news story about Latino kids being bullied, one story involving a group of Mexican kids having bleach thrown on them as they were walking home from school. Almost 25% of children in foster care are the product of undocumented immigrant parents. Some children are forced to sit in deportaion camps while the courts hold their fate. Recently state legislatures have been faced with the question of whether undocumented college students should be allowed to continue receiving an education.
Here's what God says:
"When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God."
--Leviticus 19:33-34
"You are to have the same law for the alien and the native-born. I am the Lord your God." --Leviticus 24:22
In my interpretation of that this means undocumented immigrants are entitled to due process and equal protection like American citizens, as long as they are not committing crimes. The earth is for everyone. People do not leave their native countries because they feel like it. With the instability, war, drugs, failing economy, poverty, robbery, and murder happening in Latin American countries, namely Mexico, right now, people are fleeing for their lives. They want to live, work, and be educated in America so their children are not lost to a cycle of political unrest.
I'm not advocating a total change of law or bureaucratic processes, because I understand that the system exists for a reason, but I am advocating a change in attitude. Let's try some empathy and compassion, rather than persecution and deportation.
Thoughts...
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