Immigration in Missouri

Immigration justice

Editor:

The article, "Resolution Seeks Dialogue on Immigration" (Jan. 26) featured the concurrent resolution by Rep. John Bowman and Sen. Joan Bray on illegal immigration.

Unfortunately this resolution does not "seek dialogue" but rather engages in name-calling. The resolution accuses those concerned about illegal immigration of being motivated by "extremism," "racial hatred," "organized bigotry" and "dangerous vigilantism."

During my 2006 campaign for state representative, I met literally hundreds of voters concerned about illegal immigration. None of them appeared to be motivated by racism or bigotry. Their motivations included a concern for the rule of law — people coming to our country should not be breaking our laws — and concern for the economic impact of 12 million illegal aliens on our education, health care and social welfare systems.

Most expressed concern for the unfairness of illegal immigrants "jumping ahead in line" while tens of thousands of others wait their turn to immigrate legally.

Others were union members concerned that large numbers of illegal workers working for low wages undermined their own unions’ efforts to negotiate a living wage.

Indeed we should, in the words of Archbishop Burke, "receive the stranger into our midst as one of our own." Scripture tells us to "love him as yourself" (Leviticus 19:33). However, neither Scripture nor Tradition teaches that nations should not secure their borders. Nor is there anything in Church teaching that dictates that an unlimited number of people illegally in a nation must be given preferential treatment over those who followed the law to immigrate legally.

While Christian charity dictates that we should treat all people humanely, our elected officials have a duty to enforce our laws and protect our borders.

State Rep. Robert F. Onder
Vice chairman,
House Special Committee on Immigration
Lake St. Louis

Mr Onder is right.

However, the best that amnesty supporters can do is attempt to vilify those who seek fairness for immigrants and security for the country and its citizens. An example of what Mr Onder is referring can be seen in this excerpt:

The resolution introduced in the House and Senate states that "tax-paying immigrants embody our Missouri values of hard work, faith and family. ... We reject the extremism of anti-immigrant groups that seek to use fear to confuse and divide our communities."

The resolution cites connections between many anti-immigrant groups and white nationalist organizations and calls for a unified voice against "their organized bigotry and dangerous vigilantism."

Those crying out like banshees, as in the above, are the ones who are divisive and openly display their bigotry...Those of us who want our borders protected from an invasion of criminals and others who choose to ignore the laws of the country can hardly by classified as bigots and fear mongerers. I believe we all know who those are who work so hard on confusing and dividing our communities.