My niece, who is American, lives and works in Europe. She has been dating a young man and wants to bring him to the United States to meet her parents. That was impossible until the announcement that Title 42 will be lifted for foreigners, along with pandemic restrictions. My sister is elated at the prospect of meeting her daughter’s boyfriend. OK, that is one side of the Title 42 controversy.
The other side of Title 42 is this: lifting the restrictions allows an already porous American border to become potentially out of control (I know; the migrant surge is already unmanageable in anticipation of the May 11 date).
Immigration
There are those who say we should be compassionate. I got into a conversation about this issue. I was told that I ought to treat foreigners with love, dignity, and fairness. Now, I believe that all people are made in the image and likeness of the Creator. They deserve respect.
But what about the flip side of this issue? My niece’s boyfriend is coming to our country as a sojourner. He is not asking (or demanding) a “free ride” on behalf of the American taxpayer. He is visiting, paying his way, and if life brings the opportunity to this couple, he might someday apply for a visa to work here. This young man is a sojourner, not a squatter.
How Title 42 Affects You
Sojourners are different from squatters who take what is not theirs and set up in a country at the expense of citizens who owe them nothing (except dignity and worth). There is a process to follow to live and work in every country around the globe. The surge, as I understand it, is full of people with many needs. They are coming with the expectation that they will live here, at least for a time, at the expense of U.S. citizens. Remember when I was told that I ought to treat foreigners with fairness? Fairness is a 2-way street, not a 1-way pass that dead-ends into my yard.
Now, I am not suggesting we be rude or uncaring. On the contrary, I’m all for legal immigration. After all, I am the daughter of and the wife of legal aliens who went through the naturalization process. I don’t need emotional lectures. I need common sense on this issue.
What say you? I’m happy to have your comment but observe the rules: Avoid naming or discussing celebrities, politicians, or political parties when commenting. It only leads to uncivil discourse. Venting your feelings doesn’t change minds. Your ideas and principles do. NO additional pictures or links, please.
This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. 🇺🇸
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