I meant to say detained. My bad.
This isn't about individuals and personalities. Many of us may know someone who is here illegally and we truly like them as people. This is about a principle....acknowledging and upholding the laws which are meant to protect our sovereignty and order.
I also have had such a problem in my life. My brother married a girl who he brought here legally from Mexico. She went through all the proper channels and has been waiting to bring her mom here for a visit....legally. In the meantime, she has several brothers and sisters who came to the US illegally over the years (before my brother met her). One of those sisters has a young teenaged son who she brought here illegally as an infant. A couple months ago this young boy developed a brain bleed and was put in the hospital. There is no insurance so it is being paid for by all of us. I care very much for this child and do not want to see him die because he can't get medical care, but on the other hand I think it is very wrong for illegals to come here and reap the rewards of our society without contributing their fair share. Here again....if we look at it on the basis of individuals, we are often conflicted because there are many individuals who are here illegally who we find likeable. But when we evaluate the principles involved, it's another story.
I think about this child and realize that had this happened to him in Mexico he may well not have survived. Because it happened here, regardless of his illegal status, he got top notch care and is on the mend. Realistically, however, there is no way we can afford, as a society, to take on the care of all the deserving individuals in the world. Truthfully, had he appeared in the hospital and been packed up and sent back to Mexico, I would have felt terrible! Realistically, however, he is only one of many who are draining our resources illegally! Americans are a generous society who have compassion and try to have a certain degree of understanding....that often puts us at odds with our desire to enforce our laws. I became attached to this young child over the years and do not want to see him hurt, but the proper way to have addressed this would be for them to have returned to Mexico and applied for legal entry just like my sister-in-law did. I understand their desire to get ahead and live the American dream, but the truth is that they are not playing by the rules. They work, but many pay no taxes and have no insurance. The drain on our society is evident and it is something I resent. I understand your pain and conflict, but being an illegal in this country is not acceptable. President Bush might have a good point when he says we need to make legal entry easier. But we have to stand up and defend our American standards and heritage. Otherwise we create our own jeopardy.
Do the right thing.