“ It was a Tuesday in 2017. Our church marquee read: “#JOSE IS MY NEIGHBOR.” Jose had an asylum case steadily making its way through the court system. However, it turns out that one hand of the justice system, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the immigration police, does not honor the other hand of the justice system: the courts. ICE had told Jose to report to its New Orleans office the next day for deportation — even though he had legal standing.
Jose entered the sanctuary of First Grace UMC, New Orleans, and lived with us for the better part of a year.
That’s why on that Tuesday, Jose, who had spent 10 years helping rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, left his wife and two small daughters and entered the sanctuary of First Grace UMC, New Orleans, and lived with us for the better part of a year.
During these months, Jose fixed everything: HVAC ducts, pipes, tiles and doors. He prepared meals for the hungry. And he prayed for hours in the sanctuary, repeatedly saying to me, “My life is in God’s hands.” Then, after nine months of living in sanctuary, his lawyer got the call from ICE. They told her to “tell Jose to report to the ICE office. We’ve decided NOT to deport him.””
http://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-ice-deportation-churches-rcna183888
Now, I think the border is broken and that all those filing to come in should be deported. If they claim asylum, get it done quickly and either deport them or give them legal status. For those like Jose I believe it is all said and done after all these years if they have not committed crimes.
But, we do need to fix immigration law and have more judges and capabilities to deal with allthose already here. No catch and release. Finance the ability at the border to deal quickly with them right there and then.
Let’s not forget all those who come here, a large percentage of those here illegally who overstay their visas.
Finally, having ICE going into churches, hospitals, etc., looking to arrest people is going to piss off MANY. Even worseif the army gets into that.
Remember, this is America, for whatever that’s worth, and it is a lot, to us and the world. Don’t fk it up.
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