“Justice is getting what you deserve. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.”
– Stuart Briscoe
Regarding The U.S. Constitution, whether one is an originalist or a revisionist, it’s hard to disagree that the founders believed it was the duty of the federal government to protect its citizens. As stated in the first of the enumerated powers listed in Article I: Section 8, “The Congress shall…provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States.” Other powers in the same section more specifically addressed how the country would do this. Article IV: Section 4 states “The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion…” Sadly, as our country and the scope of government have grown, less attention has been paid to our national security, and numerous presidents and sessions of Congress have done very little to address the lack of security at our borders and shores. The result is that we are now home to a countless number of illegal immigrants.
Among those here illegally are individuals who were brought to the United States as children. They have grown up here and assimilated into our culture, and I’m sure many of them know only the U.S. as their home country. We just marked the 19th anniversary of the DREAM Act, a compassionate attempt by two senators of different parties to give illegal minors a path to citizenship. It’s become a political football and, with no solution in sight, President Obama’s administration fashioned DACA, thereby deferring action on these individuals. Their fate still hangs in the balance as the wheels of progress in Congress turn slowly, when at all.
Can’t we strengthen our border security to allow only legal immigration, giving persons who want nothing more than a better life and the chance to achieve their unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness the opportunity to become part of our “more perfect Union?” After all, except for those of us descended from Native Americans, we are all the beneficiaries of the migration of our ancestors to America. And can’t we agree to give these young people who did nothing by their own volition, but simply followed their families into our country, the opportunity to become naturalized citizens and realize the security they so desperately want? Can’t we determine a way to do both?
If we can do both, will that be an act of justice, mercy, or grace? Each of us must decide, but, my goodness, can’t we use a little more of all three?
“Justice is getting what you deserve. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.”
– Stuart Briscoe
Regarding The U.S. Constitution, whether one is an originalist or a revisionist, it’s hard to disagree that the founders believed it was the duty of the federal government to protect its citizens. As stated in the first of the enumerated powers listed in Article I: Section 8, “The Congress shall…provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States.” Other powers in the same section more specifically addressed how the country would do this. Article IV: Section 4 states “The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion…” Sadly, as our country and the scope of government have grown, less attention has been paid to our national security, and numerous presidents and sessions of Congress have done very little to address the lack of security at our borders and shores. The result is that we are now home to a countless number of illegal immigrants.
Among those here illegally are individuals who were brought to the United States as children. They have grown up here and assimilated into our culture, and I’m sure many of them know only the U.S. as their home country. We just marked the 19th anniversary of the DREAM Act, a compassionate attempt by two senators of different parties to give illegal minors a path to citizenship. It’s become a political football and, with no solution in sight, President Obama’s administration fashioned DACA, thereby deferring action on these individuals. Their fate still hangs in the balance as the wheels of progress in Congress turn slowly, when at all.
Can’t we strengthen our border security to allow only legal immigration, giving persons who want nothing more than a better life and the chance to achieve their unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness the opportunity to become part of our “more perfect Union?” After all, except for those of us descended from Native Americans, we are all the beneficiaries of the migration of our ancestors to America. And can’t we agree to give these young people who did nothing by their own volition, but simply followed their families into our country, the opportunity to become naturalized citizens and realize the security they so desperately want? Can’t we determine a way to do both?
If we can do both, will that be an act of justice, mercy, or grace? Each of us must decide, but, my goodness, can’t we use a little more of all three?