Why immigrants deserve our support
To the Times:
Years ago, I worked in a group home with disabled men. Several of my co-workers were immigrants from Liberia who had f led from a brutal civil war. I found it very understandable that they sought a better life in our nation.
For five years I’ve lived in a quality nursing home. A number of the staff are immigrants from various African nation’s. Aside from Liberia, a couple are from Sierra Leone and one is from
Guinea. One of my favorite nurses from Liberia keeps in close contact with her brother via phone calls. Although she isn’t a Catholic, she sends her daughter to a Catholic elementary school, which her daughter enjoys and her mother feels she receives a good education.
Archbishop Gomez of Los Angeles has said that our society should “... advance the humane treatment and legalization for immigrants,” and I agree. As a moderate registered Republican and former longtime registered Democrat, I frequently disagree with typical Republican policies. I support President Trump because he supports the right to life of the innocent unborn, which I believe is the paramount issue facing our nation. But I readily admit that he has disturbed me when he’s made very negative remarks about immigrants. As a Christian, I believe that the Holy Family were immigrants who fled from their homeland to Egypt to escape the murderous King Herod.
Some time ago, I made a modest contribution to the Kino Border Initiative (KBI). Their 2019 Annual Report describes their mission as including providing humanitarian assistance to immigrants. Their values include the belief that “Christ is present in everyone” and that each individual has the right “to migrate to create a better life.” KBI does much good for immigrants in often desperate circumstances. In 2019, the Initiative served over 130,000 meals to immigrants,
and provided first aid to over 4,000 immigrants. 763 migrants in detention were visited by KBI staff and 296 women and children were provided with shelter. Further, this compassionate agency provided 486 migrants with legal orientations, and 4 people were helped to win asylum.
The values of the Kino Border Initiative clearly demonstrate that “the preservation of life and care of people is fundamental to our (Catholic) faith.” Although KBI is a Catholic agency and has a priest as its director, it serves immigrants of different (or no) faith. The well-being of immigrants rather than their conversion is the crucial work of the Kino Border Initiative.