I think that the problem with the teddy bears at the border is that the stream of people coming across are being conned. BarakO has sold them a bill of good, that they are welcome and will be supported and will have a better life here. They stream in with no means of support, diseases and parasites we have no immunity to, overwhelm our schools, hospitals, and saftey nets. They undergo a gantlet of rape and horrendous experiences to get here because of these perceived promises. Maybe not as quick a fix, maybe less opportunity to grandstand but less apt to promote human misery.
I believe that it is the very opposite of Christian to encourage them to come here. Going with Teddy Bears is a nice optic but if it encouraged one extra child to be sent across the border alone it was a criminal act.
The most Christian thing to do is to have a strong border and immigration rules that are the same for everyone, to eliminate the tunnels and coyotes that prey on our southern neighbors.
Visiting orphanages, helping establish schools and hospitals in South/Central America those are wonderful things. Americans are warmhearted and generous people and those efforts should be applauded. Grandstanding at the border can only hurt the South/Central American people by sending the incorrect message and in my opinion uses the people crossing cynically for their press value while encouraging them in a dangerous and disruptive activity.
Are those people better off coming to America, dying or being raped in the process, being preyed on by coyotes, entering the welfare trap, being targeted by gangs or are they better off remaining in their country with their existing support systems and having their country improve with increasing industry and aid delivered locally via farming info, small business support etc?
I hope Old Salt, you will see my comments above in the spirit they were meant, as an outstretched hand. It was not an opportunity to attack just a sincere explanation of why I am troubled by an act.