Immigration policies and abortion are not the same

My thoughts on immigration aren't at the forefront of my priority list since I don't live along the borders and am not directly impacted.  Years ago, liberal Democrats were all about controlling legal immigration and curbing illegal immigration.  That was back when I identified as a liberal, if not a Democrat.  Seemed logical to me.

That's changed of course.  Somewhere, in the early 00s, suddenly the Democrats became the party of open borders in all but name, the Catholic Church either paved the way or jumped on board, and that's been the only acceptable approach ever since.  To oppose their particular policies and approaches meant you were nothing but racist or hated babies from other countries or whatever.

Now, on the whole, my thoughts are pretty simple.  Fix the immigration laws so that people can obey them easier than they can nowadays.  Even if our country is pretty open compared to many, there is always room for improvement.  Meantime, do our best to accommodate and help those who have come here by divers and sundry means, but don't say the law doesn't apply based on your skin color or national origins.  Likewise, if concerns about children are brought up, make sure we care about the least of these coming into our lands, as well as the least of these currently in our lands.  That was one reason why the Democrats used to be so tough on illegal immigration, because of the strain it put on our ability to help our own 'least of these'.  As far as I know, we still have our own least of these, and attempts to dismiss or downplay their concerns are no better than pulling a child from a parent and hauling him back home.

In a nutshell, the best immigration policy makes sure we don't rob Peter to pay Paul, that we take into account those on both sides of the border, and we ensure that we're not laying the groundwork for future problems by suggesting that laws no longer matter, based on what you look like or where you're from.

Given the tenor of the debate over the last 15 years or so, I must admit that most seem to have failed on these simplest of standards.  Oh, they'll insist they care about everyone or whatnot.  But taken as a whole, you'd be hard pressed to believe it - and that includes both sides, not just the side that can go too far with telling people to stay out of our country no matter what.

One more thing.  I write all this because I notice as many Christians on the Left come out into the sunshine to deal with the Ireland vote, some are appealing to immigration in a sort of 'Gotcha!' way.  How can you possibly be pro-life and allow this to happen!   Care for the least of these  (on both sides of the borders) is, of course, the Christian way.  But there can be disagreements as to how we achieve this.  Neither side may be altogether correct, or perhaps there is a third option that hasn't been thought of.  But whatever, your belief in which political policy approach is best is not - repeat, NOT - equal to aborting the unborn.  That is an intrinsic evil.  You cannot excuse it, allow it, defend it, or downplay it.  It is a sin that cries out to heaven for vengeance.

Yes, if people want the young and helpless among immigrants to suffer and die, that too is a sin that cries out to heaven for vengeance.  Likewise, if people say they don't give a damn if Americans or their kids suffer since they have no right to complain, that too would be a sin that cries out to heaven for vengeance.

But between those extremes can be honest disagreements over how to achieve the best for the most people.  Between those two extremes is where good Christians in good faith can come together and discuss possible solutions.  There is no good faith disagreement over allowing babies to be aborted.  So don't compare the two.  Keep the two separate, and don't try to wiggle a decidedly political, and perhaps flawed, solution to the immigration problem onto the same tier as abortion.  That misuses doctrine and makes a mockery of the slaughter of the innocent that is abortion, as well as setting up for future problems if all of your polices are followed, and yet the least of these continue to suffer on one side of the border or the other.