Immigration To The US – A Moral Dilemma

Many of us have special feelings for immigrants trying to come to the United States. We are supportive of their goals to seek a better life for themselves and their families.  Many ,like myself, who are children of immigrants understand full well the blessings that this country gave us.  My parents  were displaced persons who had no place to go after World War 11. The United States  was a safe haven for them. It was not easy for them to come to America. They traveled from country to country in Europe to gain admittance due to the US quota system. They went through an extensive vetting process and  there was  a demand for sponsorship. Thanks to Hashem, my mother’s “Tante Raizel”  who was my grandmother’s sister who lived in Massachusetts vouched for them and they were finally allowed  to enter the US from Ellis Island.

We are proud of the US stance on immigration as cited by Emma Lazarus “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free….”  

Of course, there have always been Nativists who did not want the foreigners to come to America. They felt that the immigrants would be a burden on the state. My parents certainly felt their opposition. But those bigots were wrong. Immigrants made  this country great. They worked hard and prospered always loyal to America.

But the immigration issue that is developing now is quite different. Upwards of 3,000 migrants in a caravan intend on infiltrating America without due process. That puts us in a quandary. As much as we want to help these people, we do not have the proper systems in place to deal with such a volume. There is a sense of entitlement that these migrants have that defy logic. America owes them nothing. It is just the benevolence of the United States that affords immigrants the opportunity to be admitted albeit legally. Why do they think that can just barge in through the border without rhyme or reason? They are intending to push into the Texas or the Arizona border without documents or permission to do so. 

Some have been told to seek asylum saying that they are threatened in their home country, but that may not be the truth. Legitimate seekers of asylum must live in credible fear of government repression based on religious, racial or ethnic identity. Home country violence and government corruption, as terrible as they are , cannot  be considered sufficient bases for asylum nor is the desire just to get a better job and live a better life an appropriate reason.

The desire for a better life has always been a reason to come to America. If that is the case, I support them wholeheartedly. But there seems to be credence to the fact that nefarious forces are behind this caravan.  This horde of people are not being vetted. Many are criminals. There are gang members, drug smugglers and mules that bring in children  for human trafficking in the mix.

The migrants are having a very hard time. Morale seems to be eroding inside the caravans (there are now three) pushing towards  America. Many are trying to go home and others are now willing to stay in Mexico where they could have an easier time to blend into society. Our hearts should go out to these desperate people.

I am disillusioned by the folks  holding the flags of their native countries ( Hondurus, Guatemala, El Salvador). If things are as bad as they are saying, why are they displaying loyalty to the countries giving them so much grief ?

Those coming are mostly working age males seeking employment.  There are a smaller number of women and children usually seen out in front for sympathy purposes. Many have friends or family already in the United States who are also here illegally. We need to know their health status, as well. Coming to settle in the Unites States is not an open door. There are procedures  that need to be followed to ensure admittance .

 President Trump plans to bar entry of all migrants at US Mexico border in a bid to stop the caravan . 5,200  US troops are set to make their way to the southern border to help Homeland Security and the National Guard  cope with the flow as the caravan pushes north. I pray that  there won’t be violence and innocent lives won’t be lost. I fear that this episode will not be America’s finest hour and that President Trump will be perceived as a callous racist.

What has me very troubled is the announcement that President Trump plans to sign an executive order ending “birthright citizenship” for babies of non-citizens born on US soil . It is known that many pregnant women want to enter America illegally if necessary to ensure that  the child will be an automatic citizen. This policy is a response to the  current interpretation of the 14^th amendment. The 14^th amendment states that anyone born in the US regardless of whether they are delivered by a non-citizen or undocumented immigrant-is considered a citizen. I have special feelings for  this since my mother was pregnant with me when she came to the US. After what they went through in the Holocaust, my parents were determined that I be an American. 

If the executive order comes to pass, we  will be facing a moral dilemma  . I fear that we will adopt a Nativist point of view that we will make us heartless and unresponsive  to those not  as fortunate as we are.  That would definitely not be the American way.

America has always been the beacon of freedom. Something we have always been proud of. We cannot let  that value diminish. I pray to Hashem that  wise heads  will prevail and  that a fair approach to the immigration  issue will see the light.

By Cynthia Zalisky

---

Cynthia Zalisky is the Executive Director of the Queens Jewish Community Council. She can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.