There’s a meme regarding the red card craze. The “red card” tells migrants of their rights. It shares what one should do if approached by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
Individuals are told to keep them on them in case of an emergency. The red cards are laminated cards with the following instructions:
“I do not wish to speak with you, answer your questions, or sign or hand you any documents based on my 5th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution.
I do not give you permission to enter my home based on my 4th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution unless you have a warrant to enter, signed by a judge or magistrate with my name on it that you slide under the door.
I do not give you permission to search any of my belongings based on my 4th Amendment rights.
I choose to exercise my constitutional rights.”
What some people fail to realize is we are Constitutional country. When a person arrives in this country, by merely stepping foot on our soil, each individual is entitled to the same rights guaranteed under our Constitution. This right is also guaranteed in the Declaration of Human Rights written by former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and ratified by the UN in 1948. Call it one of the benefits of being in one of the most powerful countries in the world.
Migrants come to this country for many reasons. Some come for work, some have been promised a safe place because they’ve assisted us with military operations to overthrow intolerant governments, some are escaping violence from gangs and extreme poverty, some are farmers and climate change has impacted them so hard that it’s a “make or break” time for them, some have temporary work visas, some are brought here against their will as they are human trafficked, some were brought here as children (DACA) and have had loved ones deported while they attempt to become citizens even though they’ve been living here and grown up here participating like full-fledged citizens. Most are coming with nothing but the clothes on their backs and a bag full of hope that someone will support them and give them a shot at life they badly need.
True, there are nefarious reasons, too. There are criminals peddling drugs and exploiting people. There are those who have intentions of hurting others, but the percentage of these people is small compared to those who come to seek a better life. We have a right to protect our borders against evil individuals, and the technological resources that have been allocated and the policy of working with Mexico’s new president to stop these acts will go a long way to helping.
As Trump came into office, I’ve heard stories from people who are serving refugees. Refugees, who average 2-5 years living in overcrowded camps, arrive here and are placed on the status of “parole,” where they check in monthly to let the government know of their whereabouts as they contribute to society to provide for their families and work toward citizenship. These are the people who are afraid of being deported.
A friend of mine’s parents was deported in 2018. She has not seen her parents since that time, and she is working toward her citizenship. Another friend has not seen her father since she was 4 years old. She’s now in her early 20s.
A friend of mine who is connected to the refugee population has told me stories that make your skin crawl. An Afghani, who helped our government defeat the Taliban in his country, is on ”parole.” This individual told her he is losing hope of gaining citizenship he was promised when we exited his country. She told me he was on one the last planes out and through the efforts of our military and soldiers, he was offered safe harbor. He said, “They’re going to send me back, I know it.”
My friend said, “We promised you safety and security, you’re not going back.”
The man insisted, “They don’t care. Their attitude has changed towards me. Their promises mean nothing now. If I return, I’m a dead man.”
The Taliban has returned to power. Donald Trump’s administration released 5,000 Taliban leaders and soldiers during his administration, some of the very same people who have claimed power.
My friend could not assure him that we valued him and appreciated what he did to support our men and women while they were serving in his country. In the eyes of the world, our cruelty is epic and it’s being witnessed everywhere.
In a Mexican restaurant, Cilantro Taqueria, in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, a raid occurred. Someone who witnessed it told me, “It was crazy and pandemonium ensued.” He was eating there when ICE raided the restaurant and started screaming and causing commotion. Dogs were brought in and he said people were dressed in SWAT uniforms. One of the men detained was crying that he was “not going to be able to see his wife again.” A woman was taken into custody and begged the agents that she had a child. They allowed her to get her child as she was held in jail.
I heard a story about someone who was followed by a Sherriff’s car and an unmarked vehicle. When they stopped for gas, they were questioned as to their status. The driver was thrown the ground because he didn’t speak English and wasn’t giving the answers they wanted. He was handcuffed and taken to jail and released when he showed them his papers.
A friend commented, “we should just take the plaque off the Statue of Liberty stating, ‘give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses,’ because we’re becoming a Fascist state.”
As I was speaking to classes this week, a student asked the question, “How does this relate to religion?”
Good question. I reminded her that the Holy Family were refugees fleeing political persecution when Herod heard about the birth of the Messiah and ordered the slaughter of children. The family spent its first years in Egypt until it was safe to return home. The prophets remind us throughout scripture to “attend to the widow, the orphan and the stranger.”
I also reminded them that passages like Leviticus 19:34. “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”
Hebrews 13: 1-2. “Continue in brotherly love. 2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.“
Jesus boldly proclaims that it is imperative to welcome the stranger in Matthew 25: 40-43 “The Judgement of Nations.”
40And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’
41Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.’
Jesus goes so far as to state your salvation depends on it.
During a rally of support for people impacted by the most recent decisions to crack down on people of color who live here, a friend of mine said it beautifully, “There’s no more God in me than there is in you.” This is where the problem starts. Some feel as though God has given more divine rights to certain individuals and less to others.
“Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness is a divine right.” Let’s keep it that way.
spirit beat 