In Exodus Chapter 22:21, the Bible states “Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt.”
This verse reminds all United States citizens that at one time or another, we were all aliens in this country. Even Native American ancestors came from Asia. It is our moral duty to welcome the strangers to the United States no matter how they came to our country.
According to a poll released by CBS News, “nearly nine in 10 Americans (87 percent) favor allowing young immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally as children to remain in the U.S.”
This number includes 79 percent of Republicans, 92 percent of Democrats and 87 percent of independents who favor the policy.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) allowed these law-abiding undocumented young people — 6,000 in Minnesota alone — to come out of the shadows to live, work and contribute to our economy. They’re employed in every industry and serve their communities as teachers, doctors, and members of our armed forces.
A bill, HR 3440, was introduced by U.S. Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-California, on July 26, 2017. The bill has one sponsor and 199 co-sponsors, 195 Democrats and five Republicans. It was referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security on Sept. 6 by the Committee on the Judiciary. That was the last action on the bill. HR 3440 can become the law of the land through a bipartisan effort of the U.S. Congress.
Republicans have refused to act on the DACA program. With a new morality that defiles the teaching of Jesus, an immoral minority calls for “Americans First.” U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen, the Republican Party and President Donald Trump want to build an impenetrably high wall to keep thousands of unaccompanied children fleeing the extreme poverty, violence and rising rates of murder in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala from entering the United States.
Paulsen must become a sponsor of HR 3440, advocate for its passage and vote for the bill when it comes before the House of Representatives.
Ray L. Daniels, Eden Prairie
Eden Prairie News, February 10, 2018