And what about efforts to make it easier for immigrants to get through the logjam at INS? Where people have to wait years to get legal papers? Ah, but it's a lot easier to couch the issue as being about “illegals” and “breaking the law” than it is to look at why politicians keep blocking any sort of immigration reform that will help break this logjam.

The immigration reform measures have been trying to alleviate this, but organizations such as FAIR (which opposes all immigration: http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer) constantly lobbies and blocks this legislation from passing. This hasn't been a Dem or Repub thing as George W. Bush tried to get it passed when he was president.

And what about efforts to make it easier for immigrants to get through the logjam at INS? Where people have to wait years to get legal papers? Ah, but it's a lot easier to couch the issue as being about “illegals” and “breaking the law” than it is to look at why politicians keep blocking any sort of immigration reform that will help break this logjam.

The immigration reform measures have been trying to alleviate this, but organizations such as FAIR (which opposes all immigration: http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer) constantly lobbies and blocks this legislation from passing. This hasn't been a Dem or Repub thing as George W. Bush tried to get it passed when he was president.

Right on comment nuc. This is what I mean that this does not expand dialouge or understanding of the issue,from the beginning you are a bigot if you disagree, What happens if your just mis informed , and may even change a view . The blog here stops that possibility from the beginning . I definitely see how illegal immigrints are stereotyped and used as scapegoats . But I see that with religious people , gays and those who disagree on both sides . Because Religious people have a bigoted view promoted on them in the mainstream media , does not mean that religious people are right . I don't consider myself more righteous then those on either side of this issue , but holy mahoney..a little civility and insight on how to solve problems ,

At the top of this blog it states :

I will express my disagreements with other community members' ideas without insulting, mocking, or slandering them personally. (Matthew 5:22)

You would think that is easy enough to understand that the editorialist has a problem with this scripture ,
You would think a better conversation would include that we are all trying to do what is best and hope to do what Jesus would have us do . If we disagree , do so in love and not with constantly depicting the other side as godless , immoral or bigoted. I see that in the far right religious camps and in the far left secular camps promoting their issues of abortion and other issues. It took steam here at election time , and now sides are just divided by politics , and always the other side is Bibically wrong , but its always based on self and politics., not our Lord.
.

Of course, couching the issue as an immigration issue and calling those opposed to your point of view as xenophobes and racist is convenient and easy; not accurate, but easy. Never mind the issue of the legality of the immigration in the first place…just avoid detection long enough in your violation of the law, and you get the prize. Where is Sojourners in fighting against employers who exploit illegal immigrants in the US? Instead, the solution seems, make the illegal immigrants legal, and labor conditions will improve. Are you that naive? Without border enforcement, anathema to hear I am sure, the newly legal workers will be kicked to the curb and there will be more illegal workers ready to take their place.

Think of it: unethical employers have a vast number of people that they can hire under sweatshop conditions and pay them well under the minimum wage with no health benefits. And no worry about anyone trying to protest either the conditions or the pay. Because they can just call the INS and have them deported.

I've seen people here protest against human trafficking when it happens far away in other countries. However, when it comes to protesting this form of human trafficking that is happening right here in the U.S.A.: then people frequently change their tune. They demand closed borders, “send them back to Mexico (even if they come from El Salvador, Poland, or some other place).” You'll see all sorts of stereotypes about how “all they want is welfare from U.S. taxpayers.” Or else “they will force the U.S. to speak Spanish.” Or similar xenophobic/racist stereotypes.

We need to reform immigration so that people who want to work, and legitimate employers who need these workers, can get the jobs or the people they need in legal, legitimate ways. We need to greatly reduce the INS logjam that makes it so that those who want to be here legally have to wait for years and years. Unforunately, because of the anti-immigrant political landscape, there is little political will to accomplish this needed reform.

However it is unfortunate the increae in conversation was already settled in regards to how again Christians are directed to think to be on the “right ” side of an issue . Especially one sees as more complicated as is laid out here . Especially because as Matthew points out children are effected by the actions by their parents, legislators , prejudice, and governments.

But the conversation is not increased when one side is right , and one side has the Bibical point of view. As the Pharisees of their time proved all so well . Would the answer perhaps be somewhere not in legislation but in each of our hearts ? Does caring about one imigrint legal or illegal somehow get diminished if your opinion is not that of Matthew's/
God's creation, is regulated by man made laws that sometimes impedes temporary economic growth , and at times have seem it stop help for those n need when charities have placed in front of then stumbling blocks that support for the poor. Are envirnomental regulations anti God as well as immigration control . Or does sometimes regulation maintain some kind of balance that is better for all concerned in the long run .

Would have been better for the editorial to give a brief outline of the bill so we could have shared what was what we supported and what we did not . Assuming children are provided legal status if they entered here illegally , does this put the position of the government of keeping them here but legally making their moms and dads go back to their host country ? Does a having a child do well in school in this country exempt coming here illegally but a student say that suffers from dylexia , or someother impedment not ? Thats justice based on educational ability ? Does this mean people who come here illegally can vote while people who are legally waiting to come can not vote ?

Just seems God is big enough to have a conversation about this without people claiming God is on their side of the issue , perhaps a way to open up convesations and not limit them to gay and marriage would be to assume each individual who confesses Christ as their Lord and Savior has God at their back , in their heart , but not necessarily ion their cognitive abilities all the time . illegal immigrint, legal, American citizen or not, and we should all strive to do what Jesus would do .

Just seems more complicated then saying God is on my side vote for this bill .
Mick