Note: I was asked to attend a local rally in Laredo to promote good relations with our neighbors in Mexico, and to remind people that many of us who live on the border of Texas and Mexico see much that is good, and much of the complexity of life with our neighbors across the Rio Grande. These were my remarks at the event.
March 25,
2017 - Feast of the Annunciation
At age 17, I
had my visa revoked and made to leave a foreign country. I was there legally, and had not committed a
crime. My entire family was made to leave ostensibly for political reasons. It had been my home for 5 years. So in 48 hours I went from a fairly normal
life, school, sports, friends, church, family, to suddenly not knowing where I
would live, where my family would end up.
We each left with one suitcase each, headed for our home which happened
to be the United States. Once you’ve
been deported you see the whole issue not just from a political perspective but
a personal one.
Two years
ago, I made some visits to an immigration jail to visit someone who was being
deported. That jail happens to be in Nuevo Laredo, and the person who was being
deported was being thrown out of Mexico and made to return to the United
States. We forget that deportation works both ways.
We do need
borders, and we do need laws. But we can have better laws, and we can make our
borders safer and easier for Americans, and I mean all Americans, North, South,
and Central to cross. We can work to make not just our country better but other
countries as well.
We are
Americans. We are a creative people. We put people on the moon. Surely, we can
figure our more creative solutions to illegal immigration, both future and
current. There is an estimate that 11 million folks are here illegally.
What if we
made people legal over time with the requirement that they had to pay a $1000
per person per year tax for the next 10 years. That comes to about 11 billion
dollars a year. Let’s split that between the Federal Government and State
Governments. Supposedly in Texas there are about 1.68 million people here
illegally. That would be 1 billion, 680 million dollars each year.
There are
probably hundreds of ways we can think creatively and see people as assets and
not liabilities.
Is a wall
the best solution? Again, we have surveillance technology, and transportation
technology second to none. Even if we build the wall, someone has to watch to
make sure people aren’t crossing over it or under it, or through it. There may be a few places where walls and
fencing make sense, but growing the Mexican economy will keep more people from
emigrating illegally more than a wall will.
I love my
country. But I have a deep obligation to think not just about the United States.
I am required to think internationally. I am required to do so because I am a
member of the oldest and largest, humanitarian non-profit on the planet. We
have members in every country on the planet, including closed countries like
North Korea. There are more than 2.5 billion members globally.
Some of us
call it “the Church”. And because I am a member of that ancient global fellowship,
I am obliged to think about the members of my group who live not only in the
United States, but Mexico, Canada, Afghanistan, Egypt, Madagascar, Argentina,
Russia, India, and anywhere else.
Today
happens to be the Feast of the Annunciation. For many of us it is a reminder of
how much God loves the world, and how much the world was changed because a
young Jewish teenager said “Yes” to God.
And a few months after that yes, in Luke 1:46 she sings out a manifesto
that goes like this.
”My soul
glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been
mindful of the humble state of his
servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One
has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who
fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his
arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He
has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has
filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his
descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
Mary’s
words. “He has brought
down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the
hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.” remind me
that anytime we make a decision that will hurt the poor or the hungry, we had
better be very sure that there is not a better alternative.
The founder
of our organization, a guy named Jesus, loved to tell stories. One of his most
famous is called the story of the good Samaritan.
Jesus was addressing
his critics who were all “Israel First” folks. But when he challenged them they
got the right answer to the simple question he asked. Who was the best person at being a good neighbor
to a man left injured by the roadside? The irony was that it was the foreigner.
Yes, some people do need to be deported
and prevented from entering our country, but some people we plan to throw out
might be some of the best people in our country.
We do need
borders, and we do need laws. But we can have better laws, and we can make our
borders safer without a wall. But it means that we need to see our neighbors as
exactly that: neighbors, not enemies, friends
not foes. Surely the Virgin Mary whose
acceptance of the task to bear the Son of God,
the Savior of our race expects us to do better.
Those you who wish, please join me in this acclamation from Luke's Gospel as we remember her "Yes" to God on this day.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with Thee;
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death. Amen
