What a thread! The reality is that the illegal immigration problem is so multifaceted and complicated that it would be presumptuous to think that over an internet forum we can determine a solution that is in keeping with the moral law.
And that’s really what should matter to Catholics – not just any solution, but a morally good solution.
There are plenty of ideas…
- the immediate termination of employment of all illegal immigrants, removing the incentive that they currently have for staying in the U.S.
- enforced punishment of all persons who have hired illegal immigrants
- increased border security
- enforced workplace inspections
- tracking methods for visa overstays
…but all are debatable on practical and moral grounds
Now, as regards the common claim that “Mexicans work the jobs that Americans don’t want to work” – it causes offense because it sounds (to the receiving end) like one is saying that Americans are lazy.
But whether that’s what one means is a different matter. The above claim doesn’t offer an explanation for why Mexicans do X, and Americans don’t do X. That’s where interpretations (and heated arguments) come in.
Why do so many Mexicans work manual labor jobs? Is it because Americans don’t want to do this type of work? Is it because Americans’ don’t accept the wages offered for these types jobs? Is it because Americans’ skills set don’t correspond to these types of jobs? etc.
As regards the issue of low wages, which comes up often, why are Americans not satisfied with the wages that Mexicans are satisfied with? If the Mexicans in the U.S. can make ends meet on low wages, why not the Americans?
The U.S. is a first world country, and one of the wealthiest in the world. Obviously, as Americans we are used to relatively higher standards, but let’s not confuse habit with justice. What we are used to and what we are owed are two different things.
Just as immigration policy is an open question for Catholics, i.e. Catholics can disagree on this issue, so too I think the issue of wages is an open question. We can all agree that
just wages/payment are owed to workers. But who gets to determine what is a just wage? Is that really the government’s role to determine? Can you imagine that the government is competent to determine the just wage/payment for all of the millions of types of jobs that there are in the U.S.? .
So as we can see this touches upon the issue of a government mandated “minimum wage” which I think is certainly a debatable issue.
The point being, I don’t think “low wage” is necessarily an unjust wage. It can be, but we shouldn’t use the words interchangeably. There is some level of subjectivity in saying what is a “low” wage. We are better off using terms like just wage, or livable wage, which speak more directly to the rights and needs of the human person. And circumstances differ from person to person. What is a livable wage for one person, may not be for another, especially considering things like family size, etc.
I, for one, am conflicted on the immigration issue. On the one hand, I believe a country has a right to have a border, protect it, and establish immigration laws and formal immigration process. On the other hand, I am very sympathetic to the plight of the poor. I believe a person has the right to emigrate out of his native place in order to improve his life, and especially when his livelihood depends on it, but what good is it to have the right to emigrate
out if there isn’t a right (but only privilege) to immigrate
in to a country?
Something is amiss and it will take greater analysis to identify what it is.
On a final note, is there not something in Catholic moral theology that maintains that, in cases of extreme need, and provided certain conditions are met, is it permissible to take the possessions of another person (what would ordinarily be considered stealing but in extreme cases would be a just appropriation of resources)? E.g. a starving person taking food that he didn’t (cannot) pay for?
Because if so, a similar thing might apply for the immigrant who is in desperate enough circumstances and must resort to illegal occupation of U.S. territory and illegal employment.
2408 The seventh commandment forbids theft, that is, usurping another’s property against the reasonable will of the owner. There is no theft if consent can be presumed or if refusal is contrary to reason and the universal destination of goods. This is the case in obvious and urgent necessity when the only way to provide for immediate, essential needs (food, shelter, clothing . . .) is to put at one’s disposal and use the property of others.
It’s complicated.
for example, I don’t respect Trump’s opinion.
