more on immigration

Had some good responses to the blog from yesterday. Questions were asked about civil disobedience. I covered this on March 7, 8 of 2005. You can look in the archives at those posts. Basically, one can break a law on purpose, if through a thorough study of scripture and reason one’s conscience is guiding the action. At the same time, like St. Paul in Acts 25:10-11, one must be willing and open to suffer the punishment for the crime.

I don’t think this has a bearing on the case of immigrants who are here illegally because this is not a justice issue. It is a matter of national sovereignty, pure and simple. Like any nation under international law, it is the right of the United States, to enforce its sovereignty. The anecdotal evidence of US authorities looking the other way when people are here without the proper documentation notwithstanding, to be here illegally is breaking the law.

The issues of how people are treated by disciples of Jesus regardless of their status, I addressed yesterday. Dignity and respect for fellow humans is a hallmark of discipleship. Approval of all the behavior of fellow human beings is not a sign of dignity and respect. To love one’s neighbor doesn’t mean approving of everything they do.

The challenge for a disciple of Jesus who is living here illegally is they enter a shadow world where they are forced, in one way or another, to lie again and again when it comes to their documentation. If they have children they will have to teach their children to do the same thing. Lie about who they are in regards to their living in the United States.

Now, anecdotally we have all said, “I would do the same thing for my family because the economic conditions of Mexico (for example) are so miserable.” This sounds good but it doesn’t take into consideration the vast majority of Mexicans who choose to remain in Mexico working for change there.

More considerations tomorrow.