Bordering on Better Policy
News of four Americans kidnapped in Mexico dominated headlines late last week. Buried behind the sensational and tragic news – including the killing of two hostages – is the ongoing U.S. border crisis. To be sure, administration of the southern border needs aggressive reform. Whether considered a stigma or an enigma, the problem of managing immigration and security along the border not only lingers but is increasing in magnitude.
Before I get into the issues, I’ll state my two foundations on this topic: First, people have a right to migrate. They will do so most commonly to improve their safety and/or economic opportunity. These are fundamental to human dignity, which the American Solidarity Party consistently upholds. Whether escaping violence or natural disaster, or seeking better income and more meaningful employment, people will choose to abandon their homes and possessions to seek a place of security. To deny this reality is a rejection of people in need.
I acknowledge that there are immigration abuses, which brings me to the second basic principle: nations have the right to regulate and the duty to protect their borders. Again, the ASP consistently affirms the common good. While respecting the desperation and legitimate interests of most migrants, in the spirit of moral justice, the federal government equally must protect the general welfare. This means guarding the borders to thwart illegal entry and prevent entry for individuals with illicit purposes. This is an obligation owed to U.S citizens to safeguard their property and wellbeing.
I ordered these two beliefs precisely. While Americans have a right to security, it cannot be viewed as an exclusive right. Humanitarian concern for those with needs and worthy ambitions defines the members of our party. It can equally be a hallmark for our society. My maternal great grandparents migrated to the U.S.A. from French Canada in the aftermath of the Civil War seeking opportunity. My paternal grandparents came to America in 1918 seeking safety, after Eastern Europe was liberated during World War I. They found stability and freedom. I am profoundly grateful to be an American descendent of immigrants.
As simple as it may sound, the most urgent and basic matters of attention in U.S. border policy should be, first, ending the stay in Mexico protocol for asylum seekers by building facilities inside the American border that provide for their dignity and safety until their cases can be adjudicated. Rather than the prison-like accommodations often seen for children and adults awaiting their court date, the U.S. government should provide dignified accommodations, akin to a basic hotel room, out of respect for those who are seeking the hope of a new way of life in the United States. Secondly, to support that hearing process, appoint enough immigration judges for cases to be handled expediently. People are entitled to a fair decision without inordinate delay whether to be accepted as a refugee.
Naturally, there are more factors predicated on, or contributing to, border policy, most notably trade and international relations. America must remain alert to challenges while open to opportunities in the dynamic social landscape of the 21st century. Our prosperity as a nation is rooted in its people, who enjoy a measure of security and opportunity which is not globally universal, a fact not lost on immigrants. Everyone is born with a heart to thrive, and America is distinctly poised as a nation where it can be realized and enjoyed.