I’m a service missionary for the LDS Church serving those who are homeless, transient, staying in rehab or coming out of the jail system. For the last few years we have also served many of the immigrants.
The number of immigrants coming in has dropped dramatically the last few months for obvious reasons.
A couple of weeks ago a lady came in asking for help. She is from Mexico, her husband is from Honduras. She has four kids, ages 3-14, and is expecting. They do not have work papers/permits but her husband did have a job and they were getting by. But he was recently picked up at his employment and deported, pretty much no questions asked (if I understood her correctly), leaving them with no support, which is why she needed help.
I don’t totally blame the present administration or the immigration authorities. They are just trying to clean up the mess left from the open border policies of the last four or five years, albeit there isn’t much compassion or discretion being used it seems.
Most folks I know — it doesn’t matter whether they are conservative or liberal — don’t believe separating families is a good policy. Nor do they believe it is a good idea to deport people who are working and supporting themselves and their families and contributing to the economy and society and are not criminals.
The border is now under control — goal accomplished. Now concentrate on the criminal element and create policy and legislation that will help the undocumented — not punish them.
Congress, though, is to blame for most of this mess, especially immigration. They haven’t done their job for many years, which is why the constitutionally mandated balance of power is so out of control and the executive and judicial branches are making and dominating policy and law right now.
Corey Dinsdale, Ogden
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