An El Paso Times editorial the other day “Humanitarian costs should be borne by feds” bothered me on several levels.
Yes, I agree that the feral government has no right to dump a problem that it created onto our local plate.
Obligation
How is housing, feeding, clothing and providing for the safety and welfare of people that it has detained properly deemed to be “humanitarian”? To me it seems to be an obligation, after all the people are in custody. Are they supposed to starve to death?
Political
The Times started it’s editorial by blaming the majority party in the house of representatives for failing to do what the Times wants. They then supported the idea of the President taking action even while admitting that they had no idea what the President might do.
Who created the problem?
Those of you who have followed this blog for a while know that I believe that immigration is a state issue while naturalization is a federal issue as our constitution is currently written.
For various reasons the feral government has usurped the powers of the states to control immigration. Recently we have seen the state of Arizona being sued by the feds for enacting a law that authorized state and local law enforcement authorities to enforce existing federal laws relating to immigration.
Evidently the feds believe that the states should stay out of the business of enforcing immigration laws. Who does that leave other than the feds to enforce the laws?
The DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program was created by the President two years ago. Some say that it sent the message that dependent women and children that enter the United States illegally will not be deported but instead our government will attempt to find homes for them.
Private vs. government
Regardless of where you stand on the immigration issue it is a fact that we have women and children in need of help. I believe that humanitarian help should come from private citizens and organizations, not taxpayer funded governments. Once someone is detained though it is the responsibility of the detaining government to care for the individual.
I also believe that the feds should not aggravate the problem by letting people in who do not qualify legally.
Should we change our laws and make it easier to qualify legally? That’s a whole different discussion as far as I am concerned.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
The cry from the Whitehouse is “comprehensvie Immagration reform” and that means a giant many page bill that our elected reps will never read nor we understand…Secure the border as first step makes sense at a basic and national security level.
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TYPO ALERT: Immigration…my bad. 🙂
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Haiduc,
At least you catch and correct your typos quickly. The paid “professionals” at El Paso Times can’t say the same.
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I agree the border should be airtight as far as allowing in undocumented refugees. Beyond that, i don’t know what to think in the current situation. The Tea Party would put them in a C130 and let them off in Guatemala – at 5,000 feet. I ask myself, “What would Jesus do?” except I do not consider myself a Christian, but he was an OK guy and it’s too bad we don’t follow his ethics more than we do.
No solution because there are too many reasons these people are coming here.
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I think we should be proud of the job our Churches and NFP social agencies are doing for these brave, terrified youngsters and children (90 % are under 17) who are running for their creator given “right to life” (familiar”). Volunteers are waiting for them when they are cut loose by the Federal Processing units to make their way in a strange, new country to relatives and foster-parents in the near and far away states wearing the same clothes in which they arrived. They are brought to 3 local facilities such as Nazareth Hall where they shower,, are given new clothing, underwear, tee shirts,and jeans along with shoes. They have a hot meal and are given a pack with a “care” package of food and sundries for the trip. They are instructed in their travel arrangements and advised of who to call if they encounter problems along the way. Then taken to the bus terminal..
These are all volunteers and clothing and food is provided by the Churches and social agencies, not the Feds, State our local. governments.
Ask your Parents to check the facilities such as Nazareth Hal, to see what “Jesus is doing” in El Paso.
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What does “comprehensive immigration” mean in the details of execution?
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I hope it does not mean “we will just have to pass it before we can read it”
Brutus
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