Immigration and Other Nonsense

Actual steampunk goggles in practical use!?

I haven’t posted for a while because I’m lazy, and because I’ve been editing THE CLOCKWORK DETECTIVE, and working out a few interesting items with HELL BECOMES HER and potentially an exciting announcement concerning TEARS OF HEAVEN.

But I haven’t been idle. I’ve been arguing as well.  Shocker, I know.  Speech/Debate coach argues online?  What are the chances?

Anyhow, this was an interesting discussion, and it should be noted that opening comment was made by someone who generally argues from a position of knowledge.  Still, the generalizations tend to get me going, and so I respond:

“100% of all "immigrants" here illegally are commiting crime. That's what "here illegally" MEANS. We need to either change the laws, or enforce them.”

I get your point, and to some extent I agree. But the issue is, as you know, far more complicated, and it starts with the broken system. Most "illegals" actually entered the country legally. They "overstay" their work permit or their visa. They overstay for any number of reasons, but most start with the broken system. They had no intention of breaking the law, but once here, invested in their education, their job, and their life in the U.S., they didn’t want to leave just to stay in line with laws that make no sense. Maybe they started a family, and now they want their child(ren) to grow up in the U.S. Why wouldn’t they? Others enter the U.S. fleeing any number of ills. Some of those would see them receive asylum, if the system wasn’t so underfunded and backlogged. What should they do?

Of course the “right” thing, the “legal” thing is to leave the country until their case is heard, their paperwork processed, etc. etc. ad nauseum—that’s if they aren’t killed. But that means uprooting their career, their family, their entire life all because the U.S. is scared of people that look different and we have to have “extreme vetting” which will not be an event at the next Pet Olympics.

And what about the people, like me, citizens engaged in our communities and the politics of our nation, who understand that these are the complicated problems that have brought us to this point? What position should we take in attempting to advocate for otherwise innocent people who are caught in our system of stupidity and fear?

Essentially, the US has made these people “illegal” and then we punish them for it.

They aren’t “saints and martyrs” but their problems are real, they’re of our own manufacture, and they deserve advocacy. And that’s the dividing line. You don’t like that I advocate for immigrants and immigration reform? Well, I’m equally dismayed by those who lack empathy for people caught in this issue, who denigrate and belittle immigrants, and view them as criminals.