safety and compassion

There are some areas of life where we are forced to make "either/or" decisions.  It is sort of like a "coin toss."  The choice can only be "heads" or "tails."  But many times, especially in the arena of personal relationships and group options, "either/or" thinking is a fallacy which leads to struggles and conflict.  We especially see this in the area of couple's disputes:  The wife wants things her way; the husband wants things his way.  A power struggle ensues as each tries to convince (manipulate) the other.  But through my training as a family therapist (and especially my training in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy) I've come to believe that there is usually an "Our Way" which can help a couple move forward with renewed hope.  Now I'm not talking about a simple compromise; rather I'm talking about the discovery of a shared vision that embraces the true hopes and dreams of both parties.  Unfortunately, I believe that our country (like many couples) has fallen prey to the plight of "either/or" thinking when it comes to many of the issues that are before us today.  One in particular is the issue of immigration.

It is not often that I plunge into the waters of political opinion.  But I truly believe there is a way forward from the deep division in which our nation finds itself.  As I listen to the arguments, from both political sides, its seems to me that the primary concern of one group is that of National Safety while the primary concern of the other side is that of Compassion.    But somehow it seems that we have fallen victim to the thinking that Safety and Compassion are mutually exclusive ("either/or') outcomes.  I do not believe that they are.  In fact, I believe that pursing national safety in a way that shows compassion is the answer to this current national struggle.  Suppose that Safety and Compassion could live together.  How would the merger of these two qualities speak to our immigration policy?  I would suggest the following...

If somehow we could claim a common vision of Safety with Compassion, various aspects of our immigration dilemma could be addressed:

Entry Into the Country

Logic tells us us that to provide national safety our boarders would have to be secure.  What it would take to secure them I'm not completely sure.  Perhaps in some places it would involve a wall.  Perhaps in other places increased boarder patrol would be the answer.  Maybe in some places the use of drones would be helpful.  I'm not sure how, but surely we could find a way to keep people from simply walking or swimming across our national boarder lines.  But, in keeping with our theme, the securing of our boarders would have to be coupled with the widening of our "entry gates."  Compassion would tell us that those who seek to enter our country legally {to find a new way of life or for their own family safety) should to be able to do so with a minimum of hassle and in a reasonable amount of time.  This would no doubt mean greatly increasing the number of Boarder Officials who can receive and process requests in an efficient manner.  I personally believe if there was a reasonable, swift, and fair path of entry, the problem of illegal crossings would greatly diminish.  Unfortunately, today we hear much about "securing our boarders."  While I believe this is necessary, I also believe it has do be done in conjunction with "widening our gates."  

Penalty For Illegal Entry

Surely there must be some consequence for those who have entered the country illegally.  But let's keep both Safety and Compassion in mind.  Perhaps the pursuit of safety would impose a serious (felony) penalty upon those who enter in order to:  escape justice from another country, sell drugs, participate in sex trafficking, promote gang activity, or seek victims for their violent tendencies.  But let's be honest, while there are a number who fall into this category, most do not.  Compassion would suggest that for those who have illegally entered this country simply to escape from deplorable and unsafe conditions (or to find a better way of life for themselves and their family) the penalty should be light.   Perhaps these individuals could  be charged with a misdemeanor, then every effort taken to help "process them legally" into our country.  Possibly a reasonable fine could be imposed.  (Maybe $200.00.  I'm only guessing.)  But beyond that they would be treated as victims trying to escape the trauma of their past and those who have great hopes in the Promise of America.

Consequences For Current Undocumented Residents

So now the big question:  What to do with those who are already here?  I think Safety tells us that those who have fled justice from other countries and are here committing illegal and violent crimes (selling drugs, committing rapes, gang violence, sex trafficking) should be rounded up and sent back to their country of origin.  The pursuit of safety would not allow the violent and the vile to remain on our streets.  However, I believe that Compassion would compell us to offer all others (those who have come sincerely to find a new way of life) some type of "conditional amnesty."  I believe we could invite "undocumented residents" the opportunity to "check in" (self-report) to proper authorities with the assurance that deportation is not the plan.  Rather, the plan should be:  a background check, establishment of proper identification - complete with the issuance of a legal ID card which can be used for employment, securing a drivers, license, entry into airports, etc.  In other words, Compassion would require that we help these "come out of the shadows" and begin to live the peaceful and productive life that they long for.  Regarding this call for "self-reporting," I would suggest that 6 to 9 months would be a reasonable time frame.  If anyone did not check in within that time frame perhaps we should conclude that they are here for no good purpose.  But wouldn't it be wonderful if both the desire for Safety and Compassion could found through common sense policies.

I am not a politician, and I'm certainly not a social policy expert.  No doubt my suggestions would have to be "tweaked" and "fleshed out" in many ways.  But I do believe, like many fighting couples, at present we are just going in circles and not really pursuing a solution to a huge national problem.  So I would invite us all to abandon "either/or" thinking and begin seeking a common vision of what Safety and Compassion might look like if we were able "join hands" in our country today.

Summary of Safety & Compassion Proposal,,,,,,