How did they get those earnings? Through false identities and that is the felony.
If it was a felony, then the LAPD failed to do its job. If it was a felony then IRCA of 1986 allowed for it. And, according to what I was told by the LAPD, it was a Civil matter.
These are the people who are marching. Families who have been here long enough to grow to the size of 4-5 children and who are at risk for one or more of the members of that family getting caught for their crime of falsifying records.
Again, any legalization procedure would have to agree not to pursue action in most cases. IRCA of 1986 forgave that issue as long as the applicant provided full discloser of all ID’s used, documents and names.
Yes. Our obligation is to tend to the needs of all people. To visit those who are in prison, not to keep them from going to prison.
In Church view, most are not guilty of any crime so prison is not a justifiable option nor would it be a viable one for 12 million or more people.
When we encounter a criminal we are to treat them with dignity, yes. Now, keep in mind that goes for thieves, rapists, murderers, as well. The Church is saying we are not to judge the person, but to always treat them as we would Jesus.
Again, in Church view, no “crime was committed” and under US Civil Code crossing our border without inspection is not a “crime” but a violation punishable by fine/deportation and to enforce it would not serve us or them.
Are we morally obliged to turn them in? I don’t know.
OF COURSE NOT! That is why the Cardinal Mahony announced that it would not obey the law that would require the Church to report the “illegal” and that would also make it “illegal” to offer them Christian charity.
If the law requires us to do so, then I would think we are. If there is no law ruling one way or the other, then it appears we are not morally obliged to turn them in.
Either way, there is no “moral” obligation to turn them in for their “illegal” presence. Of course if they are selling drugs, they should be turned in.
But if/when they are caught in their crime, then it is our obligation to continue to make sure the person is treated fairly and with dignity. Fairly, for a criminal, is a right to a fair trial and just punishment.
Their “illegal” presence is NOT a criminal offense; it’s a “violation” for which the punishment is a fine/deportation not prison.
If that includes being deported, then we take care of the family that member leaves behind and make sure the person who is sent away is treated decently en route.
It’s an “unjust” law and breaking the family apart would only add to the injustice.
And, yes, that includes families of murderers, rapists, thieves and the lot, if we are to take Matthew’s passage to heart.
I’m afraid that due to many errant assumptions, your scenario falls far short of what is asked of us in Mathew 25.
