Strengthening Borders Doesn't Mean Losing Humanity

Living in fear is a bad idea for Americans

EDITORIAL
By JIM PURCELL

As Americans, let us not allow our fears to rule us in how we collectively, and individually, view our nation, and each other. 

  In this column, I would specifically like to discuss immigration, which is as controversial a subject as any these days.

  I do not want to discuss the subject as a Republican or a Democrat, a Liberatarian or Conservative, a Liberal or whatever other label is popular out there for the moment. Instead, I would rather discuss immigration as an American taxpayer and voter.

  I am all for making the United States the most difficult nation in the world to emigrate to, attend college in, or event visit, for those not born in this land. I look out in the world, and there are more dangers out there than ever before, in my opinion. So, being extremely selective about who is offered citizenship or permanent residency is not such a bad thing. It is a good idea, in theory.

National paranoia doesn't advance prosperity

  With that said, our nation's immigration services and policies have excluded record numbers of immigrants in the past few years. And, it is right that illegal immigrants be stopped, detained and held for whatever period is needed to address the law enforcement penalities associated with any alleged unlawful immigration.

  However, it is wrong that families being detained for alleged illegal immigration are being separated. Chidren need parents. Without parents, children are traumatized and such traumatization has dire circumstances in their deveopment as these children mature.

  If a child is traumatized as a consequence of a government's direct action against their family, held by the state as some kind of poker chip in a question of national morality, then that child can grow to hate its oppressor. Of course, the average American is not separating these families in detention: it is the government. It is, however, the government sanctioned by the people in response to the fear (rightly or wrongly) that the people have about immigrants. So, the pain of children separatd from their families today can become the impetus for national hatred against the United States tomorrow. Consequently, the actions of today, with their flawed legal precedence, can become the incubator of terrorists and monsters of tomorrow. And, the United States will have itself to blame.

  How many Palestinian Arab children grew up in the shadow of Israel's imprisonment of their friends, parents and people only to deal with these children years later as the suicide bombers, terrorists and criminals who committed terrible acts against that nation. Well, America is sowing the same oats for itself tomorrow right now.

  If something feels as if it is humane and common sense then it usually is. Yes, alleged illegal immigrants, once captured, must be detained. However, that detainment should be done within family units and not under the harshest conditions possible. Meet the letter of the law, by all means, but do not change the opinion of the world as America as the stronghold of democracy to the notion of America as the divider of families.

  It would take relatively nothing for this policy to change nationwide, nothing more than a presidential executive order, which could be drafted in an afternoon. Such an order could save countless lives and dollars in the years to come, and is worthy for a nation that prides itself on Christian values and decency.

  America is writing its story for the next 30 years right now. I say that story should include some element of mercy, because in the end our nation and its people will receive as good as we gave.

(Jim Purcell is a retired journalist who resides in Western North Carolina with his wife, Lita.)