“Who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an in and cared for him.
Gospel of Luke, 10:30-34

The United States is said to be a world superpower.

A powerful nation is not simply a nation with powerful weapons. It is a nation with healthy citizens and a healthy society. I think of a healthy society as one in which individual members of the society are able to engage in free expression and enterprise.

There have been numerous studies showing that if we provide an opportunity towards citizenship for the millions of undocumented workers who are already active in different industries of the economy, the U.S. economy will be strengthened, and in turn improving the society and the nation.

The United States is said to be a democracy.

The nation should operate within the frames of fair laws – laws that are unfair should be repealed and amended so that the rules of this society are equal for all. A law can’t be catered to a single individual or a select few.

Our broken immigration system is forcing immigrants into an undocumented status where they are no longer able to pursue normal economic activity. We must fix this broken immigration system, and bring those who became undocumented out of the shadows, so that they are active in society.

The United States is said to be a nation where human rights and dignity are enshrined; where all ought to receive fair and equitative treatment.

Even if someone was to break the law and was to be punished, they would need their basic human rights preserved. Human rights ought not to be the subject of politicking or party line tensions.

We have more than 10 million undocumented immigrants in this country. Some estimates put it at 11 million, or 12, or 13 million. We can’t turn a blind eye and pretend they don’t exist. We live in the same country, every day, undocumented immigrants are a part of our daily lives. A car has four wheels – it can’t possibly drive away with just three.

The legislators who are in charge of this nation know this best. They know that the status quo is wrong – they know it must be fixed. But they let partisan differences take priority; because it’s the other party’s opinion, because they don’t like immigrants, because it’s not our party, because it’s not on our side, they will not take action on it.

Who is your neighbor?

Does someone have to live on my neighborhood, or think like I do, or agree with my decisions, in order to be a neighbor?

Do we really find an injured traveler, and turn a blind eye on them?

A few years ago, someone immigrated to the U.S., and was going through the immigration process to settle in the U.S. He got stuck in a complex part of the process. And the immigration system was broken. He tried his best to get through the long tunnel of obtaining an immigration status, but he ultimately became undocumented. However, he didn’t trick the system – he worked earnestly for his family, and complied with all other laws.

But the heavy chains of his immigration status were about to make him fall. So he asked around, “Please help! Please take these chains away from me.”

Many saw him in passing, but turned a blind eye on him.

You saw him too.

What will you do?