Immigration

People should be allowed to seek safe places to live

Many people come to the US to escape violence from crime, gangs and even government oppression.

Immigration

People should be allowed to improve the lives of their family

People come to the US to improve their family's living situation, like many or our own forebears did.

Immigration

People should try to come to America legally

Most immigrants try legal process, but few are allowed in, and their circumstances may be dangerous if they have to wait.

Immigration

We should hold people accountable when they break our laws

Agreed, but illegal entry is a misdemeanor, not a crime of violence justifying arrest, splitting up families, and indefinite detention while waiting for a hearing.

Immigration

We want our communities to be safe

Yes, and immigrants commit crimes at a lower rate than American citizens; very few could be called criminals.

Immigration

We want to keep drugs from coming into our country

Yes, illegal importation of drugs should result in arrest and prosecution. Very few immigrants try to bring in drugs.

Immigration

We want to keep terrorists out

Yes, and a process of screening is and should be included in our immigration process at points of entry. No terrorists have been caught trying to get though our Southern border.

Immigration

Immigrants who come here illegally shouldn’t get free healthcare here

Agreed. And they don’t. Undocumented immigrants are not entitled to Medicaid or free health service, except under the law that prohibits hospitals from turning away those who need emergency care. [This is based on the same principle as the biblical story of the good Samaritan; we should care for our neighbors.]

Immigration

We shouldn’t just have open borders that let everyone in

True. Our borders should be restricted and patrolled to keep out drugs and criminals. But we can go too far by locking up families indefinitely, separating family members, and treating desperate immigrants like criminals for wanting to escape poverty and violence.

Immigration

People who were brought to this country as children should not be penalized for the actions of their parents.

Agreed. For many who know no other home than America growing up, we should provide a way for them to become full members of our community as citizens.

Immigration

There should be some limits on how immigration laws are enforced in order to allow immigrants to get needed healthcare, support justice in the courts and have their children educated,

We should ensure that our schools, hospitals and courthouses are safe and secure, with access to all, including our immigrant neighbors by establishing policies and procedures that limit civil immigration activities on their premises.

Immigration

We want our communities to be safe.

Since law enforcement relies on trust between police and the communities they serve, it is important that immigrant communities (most of whom are legally here) do not see the police as a threat. Therefore, local police should not be deputized to enforce federal immigration law.