The Question of Immigration

To tell the truth, I’m somewhat torn on the question of illegal immigration.

First (first not in order of priority, but the most obvious), I believe that a nation has the right to defend/control its borders. It seems to me that only socialism would argue this point. Unless we are required somehow to share all that we have with the world, it seems obvious that we Americans have the right to determine who comes into this country and who does not. As far as I know, every other country controls who comes in and who doesn’t. Isn’t the United States afforded the same right?

And in that vein, why are we required to pay for all the benefits of living in America for those who are here illegally? As an example, we are currently facing a serious health crisis in our hospitals because the federal government has mandated that emergency rooms must treat anyone who comes to them regardless of their immigration status or ability to pay. As a result, many immigrants have used the emergency rooms of America as primary care facilities, foisting off all payment to someone else. The government has tried to work on this problem by passing Medicare legislation that allows reimbursement to hospitals for the treatment of these cases, but it isn’t working. From 1995 to 2000, for instance, 23 hospitals closed in California alone, citing primarily financial difficulties brought on by non-payment for care in emergency rooms. From 2001 to 2004, another 25 California hospitals closed, again due to financial difficulties. In Arizona, there is only one trauma center available for the entire southern portion of the state, located in Tucson. Why? It’s because of the proximity of the border and the nearly constant flow of illegal aliens through the emergency rooms. Maintaining a trauma center is just becoming too costly for many hospitals.

But emergency rooms are only part of the problem. It is reported that illegal immigration currently costs Arizonans $1.3 billion for emergency medical care, education and incarceration. Californians pay $10.5 billion, and Texans pay another $4.6 billion. Nationally, it is estimated that illegal immigrants are paid $75 billion in welfare per year. Other costs amount to anywhere between $30 billion to $50 billion a year. Beyond the financial impact, 29% of inmates in federal prisons are in this country illegally, and studies suggest that cities with a higher influx of illegal immigrants suffer from twice the violent crime rate of those with lower influx.

Counting this cost, I feel the ire rising over this assault on our nation’s borders. I want to march, to campaign, to join the Minutemen or shake Washington out of its lethargy. This is wrong. It’s not fair; it’s not right.

But there is another side to it. I’m a Christian. Christians are supposed to care for the poor. We are supposed to give to the needy. We are supposed to be the compassionate ones. Who is it that is invading our country? It’s the poorest of the poor, the low-skilled, the native poor, desperately seeking something beyond starving to death. I’ve known some of these illegal aliens. They aren’t here to break the law; they’re here to make ends meet. They are sending money back home so mom and pop don’t starve. They are working two and three jobs, living in crowded conditions, trying their best to just get by because in their countries they weren’t. How can a compassionate Christian complain about the cost? How do I manage my American outrage and my Christian concern? How can I, a follower of Christ, suggest turning away a poor family seeking medical attention for their little baby? Is it just to turn people away because they're not Americans?

So, I’m torn. How do I correlate my beliefs as an American with my beliefs as a Christian? Many will toss one for the other. I don’t think I have to do that. Where is the center line? Where is the balance? I haven’t quite found that spot yet, so you won’t likely find me on the border with the Minutemen or marching with the illegal aliens anytime soon.