Citizen Aliens

There is a lot of discussion these days about immigration and the treatment of people who have made their way from their homes to seek a new life in other countries.

This is not a new problem.

When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. - Leviticus 19:33-34

So long as there is oppression or economic and political instability, there will be people looking to leave their homeland and go to where there is a chance for a better life.

The ancient Hebrews were a nomadic people after leaving Egypt, until they took possession of the Promised Land.  They must have looked like an invading army, this caravan of foreigners, as they came into the land they would eventually possess.

If we step back far enough and look at the timeline of history, we see that most of us have roots elsewhere, so it makes sense that we have compassion for those who want to flee their homes and start anew.

So, this is what bothers me about the current situation within our borders.  Our existing laws do not allow us to do what the law in Leviticus says, to treat aliens as citizens.

I cannot hire someone who has no documentation, regardless of how good a job he or she could do.

Without legal status, people are being taken advantage of, denied pay, cheated out of their apartments, denied services, cast out.

Sanctuaries and work arounds don't address the underlying problem that our laws create.

So, if we want to treat aliens as citizens, then we need our laws to support that concept and give us the tools we need to help one another live a better life.

So let's put our effort where it is needed, to change our laws, so those who come here can live here with liberty and justice for all.

More to come...