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Allegra
Guest
Good point, and one that should be taken by Christians in both political parties. Truth and charity come first, not towing a party line.
Cardinal George on border kids: ‘We need to protect these abandoned children’
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Seamus_L
Guest
I keep bringing up the significant criminal element coming across the border, something church officials tend to ignore completely, and what do I hear as a counter argument ? “If we don’t provide opportunities for these kids once they get here, many will be lost to the gang and drug culture of America’s cities”. When I hear such comments, about all I can do is shake my head and ask them what Summers are like on the planet they live on.
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Path_Finder
Guest
Ideally, it’s too bad the children are not processed in those countries, Honduras-Tegucigalpa, El Salvador-San Salvador and Guatemala-Guatemala City, perhaps with some rural offices, these are not huge countries. The Embassies should handle the paperwork, why couldn’t they also if needed, hire people from those countries to handle the work. That would seem to be much more cost efficient and probably effective all around. For all I know the US Embassy might already have a process like this.
And I suppose if that means transporting them as well, perhaps that could be worked out every 2 weeks or so. As it is, we have a humanitarian crisis.
Let’s not forget, we can process the children, they allegedly go to the address they left but after that, they may not even show up for their “hearing”. They have said even after the persons are processed, since they are out and free, they often do not show up for their hearing.
And I suppose if that means transporting them as well, perhaps that could be worked out every 2 weeks or so. As it is, we have a humanitarian crisis.
Let’s not forget, we can process the children, they allegedly go to the address they left but after that, they may not even show up for their “hearing”. They have said even after the persons are processed, since they are out and free, they often do not show up for their hearing.
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Magdalena59
Guest
I didn’t say anything about a totally open border. All I am saying is we need to remember that these are human beings and that they are all created in the image and likeness of God, just the same as you and me. I said adults because there are adults coming in also, mostly mothers with children.
Are there gangs and criminals taking advantage of the situation and coming in also? Yes but even they need our prayers.
We do need border control and I am sure President Obama had some hand in all of this. Just the way he is avoiding the issue and refuses to even look at the situation tells that.
First and foremost I have to listen to the guidance given by my Catholic church, not the politicians or the news media.
Sometimes I think it is easy to think that other countries are the same as we are here but many countries do not have the resources or capabilities we have here in the US.
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blaskoman
Guest
This is a humanitarian catastrophe. Yes indeed, I’m glad cardinal George is stepping up efforts to help. But it seems that we have to have a long term view of this whole situation. The govt has to revoke amnesty, and discourage further immigration of minors. Step up and hire more border patrols, build more walls at the border. Also talks must be undertaken with political leaders of Honduras, Guatemala and other nations from which the children are leaving.
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markomalley
Guest
You do realize that the leaders of those countries want their children back. From Politico:
Granger, who is chair the House group working to address the immigration crisis, met with President of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernandez and President of Guatemala Otto Pérez Molina.
“We found out that the president and the first ladies of Guatemala and Honduras want their children back and they’re willing to cooperate with us to send their children back as quickly as possible,” Granger said.
So I don’t think that it is a fair characterisation to make that we need to work with them to not send their kids here. On the contrary, we need to stop facilitating the traffickers who are, in effect, stealing their future generations from them.
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anthony022071
Guest
He isn’t telling us how the country should be run,he’s just saying we should welcome and protect the migrant children. Thankfully,he didn’t say we should welcome all the migrants. The children certainly need protection,but the question remains as to whether they should all be sent back to their countries. We run the risk of offending God and bringing down his wrath upon our country if we turn them away without ensuring they are protected and giving them food and shelter and returning them to their parents.
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blaskoman
Guest
Thanks for that info. Didn’t know this. At any rate, there is still somehow a breakdown in the border control of these countries from whee the kids are leaving. Diplomatic pressure should*result in these countries stepping up on being proactive on trying to curtail immigration.
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markomalley
Guest
There is, in fact, a breakdown in border control. (Having said that, how many countries restrict emigration?)
But I would say that there is, more than that, a breakdown in the rule of law. They shouldn’t allow coyotes to roam free in those countries scamming parents into shipping their kids here.
And there is a breakdown in diplomatic communications. For some strange reason, these parents believe that their children will be allowed to stay once they get here. I am sure that the coyotes are fueling that belief, but it had to start someplace (else these parents would not believe it when they were told).
See this from the Houston Chronicle (you can view it without a subscription by looking at the cache):
Flow of border immigrants overwhelming agencies (May 31)
(snip)
But each person on the bus had at least one critical possession: a packet of U.S. government-issued documents ordering them to report to immigration officials within 15 days of landing at their new destination, and to appear in immigration court on a set date.
The paperwork confers no legal status, but many immigrants see it as a pass to a new life. Edilberto Lanza Mejia, a 26-year-old from Honduras holding his infant son, described it like this: "It is a permit to enter the United States."
Or this from the LA Times:
Rumors of U.S. haven for families spur rise in illegal immigration (June 6)
Yoselin Ramos had long wanted to trek to the United States to escape the crushing poverty and rising violence in her hometown in Guatemala.
But it wasn’t until the 24-year-old heard about a “new opportunity” that she packed a bag and left her home with her 3-year-old son, Yovani, for the treacherous journey north.
Ramos became part of an unprecedented surge of families crossing illegally into the U.S., drawn by reports circulating throughout Central America that parents with children are allowed to stay in the United States indefinitely, according to Guatemalan consular officials and parents who are making these trips. But these families, U.S. officials say, are getting only half the story.
(snip)
"Desperate migrants from Central America may cling to any slim reed of hope. This false rumor of a ‘new opportunity’ is leading some to embark on a dangerous journey. They have no idea what they are facing. The smugglers are milking this situation for all it’s worth," said Dan Kowalski, an immigration attorney in Austin, Texas.
Now where could these rumors have originated?
Could it have something to do with the Obama Administration unilaterally, illegally, implementing provisions from the “Dream Act” that failed to pass Congress?
CAVEAT: Before somebody calls me a “nativist” or a “know nothing” (or perhaps a Nazi), let me emphasize that I believe that these poor families and, particularly, unaccompanied children are pawns. They are the victims of some really disgusting joke being perpetrated on them both by the coyotes (smugglers) and by certain forces in the US government that are perpetuating this. They need to be treated with full respect for their human dignity. They need to be cared for, fed, clothed, housed, provided medical treatment as needed, and, most importantly, have their spiritual needs tended to…until they can be returned to their homes (per the wishes of their governments, as I demonstrated above). MY ARGUMENT AND DISGUST IS NOT AIMED TOWARD THESE PEOPLE. Rather, it is aimed to those who perpetrated this fraud that they find themselves caught in and those who are leveraging this catastrophe and using these poor people to forward their political positions.
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Tigg
Guest
This^^ I’ve wondered about myself!
WHAT could this engineered movement of [specific] people be all about? Isn’t it comparable to the illegal immigration into the UK, and IIRC, wasn’t there a debate for amnesty there as well??
But at this point, we have no choice if we bear the name Christian. We must take care of these kids. They are tools being used by others, moved around like chess pieces to the most advantageous position. Cardinal George is right. Regardless the monstrous political motivation behind this, we know what we have to do.
Mark…I agree with every word you wrote.
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Tigg
Guest
If you live in America, it is true. There is a disproportionate number of only one ethnicity/nationality when the bishops address topics concerning the poor.
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Tigg
Guest
If you live in America, it is generally true. There is a disproportionate number of only one ethnicity/nationality when the American bishops address topics concerning the poor.
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Cat
Guest
I live 65 miles from Chicago, which is where Cardinal George is from.
I think it’s easy for us to talk from a distance. We aren’t the ones providing the care.
Illinois is in a financial mess, and as one who lives here and has lived here most of my life, I can testify that the mess is not just an invention of the media. It’s very disturbing, and my husband and I are discussing moving across the border to Wisconsin so that we’ll have a better chance of not entering old age with no money.
We won’t–we CAN’T accept a large number of immigrant children in our state. We can’t pay for the children who are already here. And as many of you know, Chicago is one of the most violent cities in the U.S.–70 shootings over the 4th of July weekend! Not a place for children.
I think it’s easy for us to talk from a distance. We aren’t the ones providing the care.
Illinois is in a financial mess, and as one who lives here and has lived here most of my life, I can testify that the mess is not just an invention of the media. It’s very disturbing, and my husband and I are discussing moving across the border to Wisconsin so that we’ll have a better chance of not entering old age with no money.
We won’t–we CAN’T accept a large number of immigrant children in our state. We can’t pay for the children who are already here. And as many of you know, Chicago is one of the most violent cities in the U.S.–70 shootings over the 4th of July weekend! Not a place for children.
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SuperLuigi
Guest
How about all the people on this forum who say we should help?
They can house, clothe and feed them if they truly “care” so much.
Well, I’m waiting…
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Nurse1992
Guest
It is not that people don’t care, they do. The problem is the Democratic party see this as an opportunity to recruit future voters. As soon as this crises started, the justice department went after Arizona again about requiring ID cards to vote and about giving illegals drivers license. The catholic church is already being attacked by this administration, and now if their plans follow through they will maintain political control. What would catholic charities do then? They will be forced to violate their conscience by this administration. The Catholic church had this problem before with their social justice program. Instead of helping the individuals, the money was being funneled to groups like ACORN, who gave their move to democratic candidates who hate the catholic church.
The only real Hispanic channels are channels like Univision, who are political hacks for the Obama administration. The gangs and violence they are facing occurred when their parents sent them with coyotes to go to the US. Is it really fair to the Americans who are legally here, some of whom live with gang violence, and loss jobs, to have their vote diluted by illegal voters ? The immigrants even confirmed that Channels like Univision, which they get in central America, gave them the impression they will come and get to stay without being punished-permisos…
Just last week we has an illegal immigrant adult, released in June murder his girlfriend and attempt to kidnap his children. He was found in Texas after leaving Louisiana. We can’t just put a ban aid on a problem, we have to fix the root cause.
The only real Hispanic channels are channels like Univision, who are political hacks for the Obama administration. The gangs and violence they are facing occurred when their parents sent them with coyotes to go to the US. Is it really fair to the Americans who are legally here, some of whom live with gang violence, and loss jobs, to have their vote diluted by illegal voters ? The immigrants even confirmed that Channels like Univision, which they get in central America, gave them the impression they will come and get to stay without being punished-permisos…
Just last week we has an illegal immigrant adult, released in June murder his girlfriend and attempt to kidnap his children. He was found in Texas after leaving Louisiana. We can’t just put a ban aid on a problem, we have to fix the root cause.
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grasscutter
Guest
Thank you for the reminder. Since I’m one of the people on this forum who truly “care”, I need to research what level of service that I could provide that would be of optimal help. I’m not sure yet what that looks like, but I will look into what I can do.
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JourneyForTruth
Guest
Obama promised he would be in favor of changing the law to treat Central Amercian kids running across the border to take advantage of new immigration unification laws but now Obama is back peddling but still wants the money.
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“White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the White House would support changes that would speed up the removal of border crossers as long as their rights are protected, but the White House has not provided details on how that could work.”*
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/house-gop-prepares-response-border-crisis-24573348
We mind as well allow syrian refugges, Iraqi refugges that aid us in the war, Hamas bombardment displacments that the vatican bishops blame Israel for hurting them even though they were told their house will be bombed get out! you have weapons in the house but the Hamas tell the citizens to stay and then celebrated the collateral damage to the press. The bishops don’t understand the victims are the Israelis.
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“White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the White House would support changes that would speed up the removal of border crossers as long as their rights are protected, but the White House has not provided details on how that could work.”*
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/house-gop-prepares-response-border-crisis-24573348
We mind as well allow syrian refugges, Iraqi refugges that aid us in the war, Hamas bombardment displacments that the vatican bishops blame Israel for hurting them even though they were told their house will be bombed get out! you have weapons in the house but the Hamas tell the citizens to stay and then celebrated the collateral damage to the press. The bishops don’t understand the victims are the Israelis.
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chero23
Guest
I also care, and for your information catholic charities is leading the charge to help these kids.
And I’m my opinion you sounded confrontational, I’m glad the church goes against your beliefs…
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chero23
Guest
People here have posted that republicans are also playing the political card. A lot of people who have files and construction sites hire illegals. The guys who run these operations are republicans. These people stated that these business owners rather pay illegals than citizen.
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