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Stop the Raids

by Jim Wallis 03-23-2009 | 6:00pm
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For the past several weeks, Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Chicago has been conducting a national tour promoting immigration reform, primarily speaking at Latino evangelical churches around the country. On Saturday, the tour came home to a prayer forum at a local Chicago Catholic church attended by more than 2,000 people. One of the key speakers was Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of Chicago, and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Cardinal George used the occasion to call on the Obama administration to stop immigration raids and urged passage of comprehensive immigration reform. In his remarks, the cardinal

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by: nuclearferret

03-24-2009 @ 1:37pm

"The immigration system is totally broken and needs comprehensive reform, but it must be changed in ways that are compassionate, fair, just, and consistent with the biblical command to "welcome the stranger.""

Cardinal George and Jim Wallis should come out say what they mean: national and other borders to them are an abomination. Compassionate, fair and just simply mean, in their world, as "Come one, come all." As for "Biblical" commands, funny how that set of books becomes a useful tool when someone wants to advance their particular agenda such as immigration, but becomes a hindrance on issues like abortion, euthanasia, death penalty. The Cardinal should be keenly aware of that. Apparently, he is not.

by: eaton

03-24-2009 @ 3:40pm

I do not doubt that deportation is a true trial and heartache for many people, and I don't want to be callous to that. But somehow I think there is another side to the coin that is not being addressed. I'm not very knowledgeable about immigration, but here are the two thoughts that pop into my mind:

Are these parents aware that they take a risk of deporation when they immigrate illegally (or undocumentedly - choose your word)? Don't they bear some responsibility for the risk they have chosen?

Do these parents choose to leave some family members behind when one parent is deported? Do they have the option to bring the entire family back to their home country? So do they also bear some of the responsibility for the family being split up in this case as well?

The way Jim Wallis presents it, it sounds as if the government arbitrarily and capriciously splits a family whose parents otherwise ignorant of an innocent in this fate that awaits them.

by: Dee321

03-24-2009 @ 4:04pm

I agree. ICE should stop the worker raids.
They should close the inhumane Detention Centers.

Here are two reports explaining why:
http://immigrationmexicanamerican.blogspot.com/...

http://immigrationmexicanamerican.blogspot.com/...

by: 24AheadDotCom

03-24-2009 @ 4:53pm

1. Every day across the U.S., hundreds of parents are separated from their families. Those parents have engaged in various forms of illegal activity, and they knew what they were doing. Likewise with illegal aliens: they came here illegally (or overstayed) of their own free will. They're the ones who are responsible for separating their families, not our laws.
2. The cure to avoid separating families in this way is clear: don't come here illegally. Those who are currently separated can reunite in their home countries.
3. It's horrible public policy to give people the message that they can come here illegally and as long as they have a child they'll get to stay.
4. One of the selling points of "comprehensive immigration reform" is that it includes stepped-up enforcement. Yet, CIR would give even more power to those - like Wallis - who currently oppose almost all forms of enforcement. If they get CIR, Wallis et al are going to simply oppose the CIR-mandated enforcement, meaning we'll have a new wave of illegal immigration. (I suspect that Wallis' real motivation for pushing CIR is to obtain more power; it certainly isn't to craft the best policy.)
5. There's little about "comprehensive immigration reform" that's "fair" and "just". See, for instance, this:
http://24ahead.com/s/false-compassion

Wallis' followers should ask him questions to his face on video and then upload his response to Youtube in an attempt to discredit him.

by: nuclearferret

03-24-2009 @ 1:37pm

"The immigration system is totally broken and needs comprehensive reform, but it must be changed in ways that are compassionate, fair, just, and consistent with the biblical command to "welcome the stranger.""

Cardinal George and Jim Wallis should come out say what they mean: national and other borders to them are an abomination. Compassionate, fair and just simply mean, in their world, as "Come one, come all." As for "Biblical" commands, funny how that set of books becomes a useful tool when someone wants to advance their particular agenda such as immigration, but becomes a hindrance on issues like abortion, euthanasia, death penalty. The Cardinal should be keenly aware of that. Apparently, he is not.

by: eaton

03-24-2009 @ 3:40pm

I do not doubt that deportation is a true trial and heartache for many people, and I don't want to be callous to that. But somehow I think there is another side to the coin that is not being addressed. I'm not very knowledgeable about immigration, but here are the two thoughts that pop into my mind:

Are these parents aware that they take a risk of deporation when they immigrate illegally (or undocumentedly - choose your word)? Don't they bear some responsibility for the risk they have chosen?

Do these parents choose to leave some family members behind when one parent is deported? Do they have the option to bring the entire family back to their home country? So do they also bear some of the responsibility for the family being split up in this case as well?

The way Jim Wallis presents it, it sounds as if the government arbitrarily and capriciously splits a family whose parents otherwise ignorant of an innocent in this fate that awaits them.

by: Dee321

03-24-2009 @ 4:04pm

I agree. ICE should stop the worker raids.
They should close the inhumane Detention Centers.

Here are two reports explaining why:
http://immigrationmexicanamerican.blogspot.com/...

http://immigrationmexicanamerican.blogspot.com/...

by: 24AheadDotCom

03-24-2009 @ 4:53pm

1. Every day across the U.S., hundreds of parents are separated from their families. Those parents have engaged in various forms of illegal activity, and they knew what they were doing. Likewise with illegal aliens: they came here illegally (or overstayed) of their own free will. They're the ones who are responsible for separating their families, not our laws.
2. The cure to avoid separating families in this way is clear: don't come here illegally. Those who are currently separated can reunite in their home countries.
3. It's horrible public policy to give people the message that they can come here illegally and as long as they have a child they'll get to stay.
4. One of the selling points of "comprehensive immigration reform" is that it includes stepped-up enforcement. Yet, CIR would give even more power to those - like Wallis - who currently oppose almost all forms of enforcement. If they get CIR, Wallis et al are going to simply oppose the CIR-mandated enforcement, meaning we'll have a new wave of illegal immigration. (I suspect that Wallis' real motivation for pushing CIR is to obtain more power; it certainly isn't to craft the best policy.)
5. There's little about "comprehensive immigration reform" that's "fair" and "just". See, for instance, this:
http://24ahead.com/s/false-compassion

Wallis' followers should ask him questions to his face on video and then upload his response to Youtube in an attempt to discredit him.

by: AndiMedi

03-25-2009 @ 9:02pm

We should have an immigration policy that allows for legal immigration for low-skilled but essential workers where they have rights, protections, and responsibilities and have a policy that allows people who have been here a certain length of time to get legal status. We have neither right now.

With rights, immigrants couldn't be used to undercut wages as they are now because employers would no longer have a trap door on minimum wage, OSHA, and other workplace laws. Harder to cheat immigrants; harder to cheat U.S. citizens too.

And, this doesn't depend on something that isn't going to happen -- no matter how long we wait: the mass expulsion of 12,000,000 immigrants (most of whom have been here 8 years or more) and their 5,000,000 children who are citizens. Any policy based on something that isn't going to happen isn't a policy, it's a delusion.

We have to prevent the absolutists who don't want anyone who is here illegally to ever get legal and don't want people to come legally in the first place from preventing reform. Then we can have an American immigration system of which we can be proud again.

by: AndiMedi

03-25-2009 @ 9:02pm

We should have an immigration policy that allows for legal immigration for low-skilled but essential workers where they have rights, protections, and responsibilities and have a policy that allows people who have been here a certain length of time to get legal status. We have neither right now.

With rights, immigrants couldn't be used to undercut wages as they are now because employers would no longer have a trap door on minimum wage, OSHA, and other workplace laws. Harder to cheat immigrants; harder to cheat U.S. citizens too.

And, this doesn't depend on something that isn't going to happen -- no matter how long we wait: the mass expulsion of 12,000,000 immigrants (most of whom have been here 8 years or more) and their 5,000,000 children who are citizens. Any policy based on something that isn't going to happen isn't a policy, it's a delusion.

We have to prevent the absolutists who don't want anyone who is here illegally to ever get legal and don't want people to come legally in the first place from preventing reform. Then we can have an American immigration system of which we can be proud again.

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by: nuclearferret

03-24-2009 @ 1:37pm

"The immigration system is totally broken and needs comprehensive reform, but it must be changed in ways that are compassionate, fair, just, and consistent with the biblical command to "welcome the stranger.""

Cardinal George and Jim Wallis should come out say what they mean: national and other borders to them are an abomination. Compassionate, fair and just simply mean, in their world, as "Come one, come all." As for "Biblical" commands, funny how that set of books becomes a useful tool when someone wants to advance their particular agenda such as immigration, but becomes a hindrance on issues like abortion, euthanasia, death penalty. The Cardinal should be keenly aware of that. Apparently, he is not.

by: nuclearferret

03-24-2009 @ 1:37pm

"The immigration system is totally broken and needs comprehensive reform, but it must be changed in ways that are compassionate, fair, just, and consistent with the biblical command to "welcome the stranger.""

Cardinal George and Jim Wallis should come out say what they mean: national and other borders to them are an abomination. Compassionate, fair and just simply mean, in their world, as "Come one, come all." As for "Biblical" commands, funny how that set of books becomes a useful tool when someone wants to advance their particular agenda such as immigration, but becomes a hindrance on issues like abortion, euthanasia, death penalty. The Cardinal should be keenly aware of that. Apparently, he is not.

by: eaton

03-24-2009 @ 3:40pm

I do not doubt that deportation is a true trial and heartache for many people, and I don't want to be callous to that. But somehow I think there is another side to the coin that is not being addressed. I'm not very knowledgeable about immigration, but here are the two thoughts that pop into my mind:

Are these parents aware that they take a risk of deporation when they immigrate illegally (or undocumentedly - choose your word)? Don't they bear some responsibility for the risk they have chosen?

Do these parents choose to leave some family members behind when one parent is deported? Do they have the option to bring the entire family back to their home country? So do they also bear some of the responsibility for the family being split up in this case as well?

The way Jim Wallis presents it, it sounds as if the government arbitrarily and capriciously splits a family whose parents otherwise ignorant of an innocent in this fate that awaits them.

by: eaton

03-24-2009 @ 3:40pm

I do not doubt that deportation is a true trial and heartache for many people, and I don't want to be callous to that. But somehow I think there is another side to the coin that is not being addressed. I'm not very knowledgeable about immigration, but here are the two thoughts that pop into my mind:

Are these parents aware that they take a risk of deporation when they immigrate illegally (or undocumentedly - choose your word)? Don't they bear some responsibility for the risk they have chosen?

Do these parents choose to leave some family members behind when one parent is deported? Do they have the option to bring the entire family back to their home country? So do they also bear some of the responsibility for the family being split up in this case as well?

The way Jim Wallis presents it, it sounds as if the government arbitrarily and capriciously splits a family whose parents otherwise ignorant of an innocent in this fate that awaits them.

by: Dee321

03-24-2009 @ 4:04pm

I agree. ICE should stop the worker raids.
They should close the inhumane Detention Centers.

Here are two reports explaining why:
http://immigrationmexicanamerican.blogspot.com/...

http://immigrationmexicanamerican.blogspot.com/...

by: Dee321

03-24-2009 @ 4:04pm

I agree. ICE should stop the worker raids.
They should close the inhumane Detention Centers.

Here are two reports explaining why:
http://immigrationmexicanamerican.blogspot.com/...

http://immigrationmexicanamerican.blogspot.com/...

by: 24AheadDotCom

03-24-2009 @ 4:53pm

1. Every day across the U.S., hundreds of parents are separated from their families. Those parents have engaged in various forms of illegal activity, and they knew what they were doing. Likewise with illegal aliens: they came here illegally (or overstayed) of their own free will. They're the ones who are responsible for separating their families, not our laws.
2. The cure to avoid separating families in this way is clear: don't come here illegally. Those who are currently separated can reunite in their home countries.
3. It's horrible public policy to give people the message that they can come here illegally and as long as they have a child they'll get to stay.
4. One of the selling points of "comprehensive immigration reform" is that it includes stepped-up enforcement. Yet, CIR would give even more power to those - like Wallis - who currently oppose almost all forms of enforcement. If they get CIR, Wallis et al are going to simply oppose the CIR-mandated enforcement, meaning we'll have a new wave of illegal immigration. (I suspect that Wallis' real motivation for pushing CIR is to obtain more power; it certainly isn't to craft the best policy.)
5. There's little about "comprehensive immigration reform" that's "fair" and "just". See, for instance, this:
http://24ahead.com/s/false-compassion

Wallis' followers should ask him questions to his face on video and then upload his response to Youtube in an attempt to discredit him.

by: 24AheadDotCom

03-24-2009 @ 4:53pm

1. Every day across the U.S., hundreds of parents are separated from their families. Those parents have engaged in various forms of illegal activity, and they knew what they were doing. Likewise with illegal aliens: they came here illegally (or overstayed) of their own free will. They're the ones who are responsible for separating their families, not our laws.
2. The cure to avoid separating families in this way is clear: don't come here illegally. Those who are currently separated can reunite in their home countries.
3. It's horrible public policy to give people the message that they can come here illegally and as long as they have a child they'll get to stay.
4. One of the selling points of "comprehensive immigration reform" is that it includes stepped-up enforcement. Yet, CIR would give even more power to those - like Wallis - who currently oppose almost all forms of enforcement. If they get CIR, Wallis et al are going to simply oppose the CIR-mandated enforcement, meaning we'll have a new wave of illegal immigration. (I suspect that Wallis' real motivation for pushing CIR is to obtain more power; it certainly isn't to craft the best policy.)
5. There's little about "comprehensive immigration reform" that's "fair" and "just". See, for instance, this:
http://24ahead.com/s/false-compassion

Wallis' followers should ask him questions to his face on video and then upload his response to Youtube in an attempt to discredit him.

by: AndiMedi

03-25-2009 @ 9:02pm

We should have an immigration policy that allows for legal immigration for low-skilled but essential workers where they have rights, protections, and responsibilities and have a policy that allows people who have been here a certain length of time to get legal status. We have neither right now.

With rights, immigrants couldn't be used to undercut wages as they are now because employers would no longer have a trap door on minimum wage, OSHA, and other workplace laws. Harder to cheat immigrants; harder to cheat U.S. citizens too.

And, this doesn't depend on something that isn't going to happen -- no matter how long we wait: the mass expulsion of 12,000,000 immigrants (most of whom have been here 8 years or more) and their 5,000,000 children who are citizens. Any policy based on something that isn't going to happen isn't a policy, it's a delusion.

We have to prevent the absolutists who don't want anyone who is here illegally to ever get legal and don't want people to come legally in the first place from preventing reform. Then we can have an American immigration system of which we can be proud again.

by: AndiMedi

03-25-2009 @ 9:02pm

We should have an immigration policy that allows for legal immigration for low-skilled but essential workers where they have rights, protections, and responsibilities and have a policy that allows people who have been here a certain length of time to get legal status. We have neither right now.

With rights, immigrants couldn't be used to undercut wages as they are now because employers would no longer have a trap door on minimum wage, OSHA, and other workplace laws. Harder to cheat immigrants; harder to cheat U.S. citizens too.

And, this doesn't depend on something that isn't going to happen -- no matter how long we wait: the mass expulsion of 12,000,000 immigrants (most of whom have been here 8 years or more) and their 5,000,000 children who are citizens. Any policy based on something that isn't going to happen isn't a policy, it's a delusion.

We have to prevent the absolutists who don't want anyone who is here illegally to ever get legal and don't want people to come legally in the first place from preventing reform. Then we can have an American immigration system of which we can be proud again.