ISSUE: Immigration

Here's a blind spot of mine: immigration. Of the various issues related to justice, immigration is one that I haven't read or thought about very much.

My grandfather was a German immigrant who couldn't speak English when he started elementary school. Kids beat him up because he was small and new and German. Welcome to the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Legal immigrants. Illegal immigrants. Rights. Benefits. Citizenship.

That "illegal" word is the tricky part. Because it seems to me that a sovereign nation should be able to decide who it lets in. There should be an orderly way to deal with the flow of humanity around the globe. Personal boundaries are important, and I think global ones are as well.

From the view of an orderly society, it makes sense that there would be a legal, lawful way to enter a country. Choosing to enter a different way would be illegal. The state/nation could then choose to change the method of entry if it desired more or fewer immigrants.

What should happen to those who are already in the U.S.? Tough question. What do you think? Feel free to leave a comment.

I do applaud the efforts of those who are working for foreigners. Here are a couple online articles on the topic:

- Thousands march for immigrant rights

- Bush faces tough immigration bill sell to GOP

- Huge Chicago turnout; Texas, Calif. feel impact

And some Bible verses to consider:

Proverbs 31:8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.

Proverbs 31:9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

Psalm 82:3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.

Jeremiah 5:28 Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not plead the case of the fatherless to win it, they do not defend the rights of the poor.