Great article!!. This is a civil rights issue and cries out for compassion. This is no time for nativist tendencies to be manifest.
I do have one concert, and that relates to separation of powers. There are very good reasons why this is spelled out in our constitution. Both good and bad measures have occurred as a result of Presidential proclamations, (Bad would be internment of Japanese-Americans, good would be Emancipation proclamation)
Our President needs to borrow a page from Lyndon Johnson, who knocked heads together to get civil rights legislation passed.
Dr. White, many thanks for your insightful comments. Indeed, this is a civil rights issue that needs serious attention. I appreciate your taking time to read my article. Best regards. Mara Perez
Thanks for a very informative article! It is good to see that philanthropy is stepping up to address this tragic situation, hopefully including supporting such children who stay in the USA. There are many things that are better done by philanthropy than by the government. (I’m not sayihg that the current government approach is appropriate; I’m not knowledgeable enough to judge. But it is harder for the government, than a non-profit, to be an advocate for people who feel unsafe where they live.)
@MollyMSchmidt: Let’s be real. Many undocumented children are refugees. 70-90% kids have no legal guidance & they deserve it. Why is this a stumbling block? UNHCR refugee status needs to be examined in these cases - it’s not a blanket solution of rapid deportation. Sonia Nazario wrote a Pulitzer prize winning book on children’s flight, Enrique’s Journey. I urge anyone straddling the fence on the issue of undocumented children to read this documentary. Thank you Mara Perez for capturing the essence of the discussion. @SLNazario
I appreciate your insights on this situation. I’m uneasy about the president overstepping his powers but you make a good case for expediency in the face of the expediency with which these “poor, tired, yearning to be free” children are being kicked back into terrible situations.
Thank you for this very thoughtful and thought-provoking article. Immigration laws and the way they are being carried out, or not, is an inflamed wound in our country that needs to be uncovered and looked at with eyes wide open to determine the best, most balanced cure. We are a nation of laws, and I, too, am concerned about our president overstepping his executive powers. Mara, your article particularly resonates with me as I am equally concerned about the safety and well being of unaccompanied children migrating to the US and the evil agendas of those persons south and north of the border who would prey upon their innocence. It is my hope and prayer that through the assistance of organized philanthropists working with government we can quickly bring these children and young people to safety. Again, thank you for this important article.
COMMENTS
BY Mara Perez
ON November 21, 2014 03:16 PM
I look forward to receiving comments about my article from you, readers. Thanks!
BY Lawrence W. White MD
ON November 22, 2014 01:38 PM
Great article!!. This is a civil rights issue and cries out for compassion. This is no time for nativist tendencies to be manifest.
I do have one concert, and that relates to separation of powers. There are very good reasons why this is spelled out in our constitution. Both good and bad measures have occurred as a result of Presidential proclamations, (Bad would be internment of Japanese-Americans, good would be Emancipation proclamation)
Our President needs to borrow a page from Lyndon Johnson, who knocked heads together to get civil rights legislation passed.
BY Mara Perez
ON November 22, 2014 02:22 PM
Dr. White, many thanks for your insightful comments. Indeed, this is a civil rights issue that needs serious attention. I appreciate your taking time to read my article. Best regards. Mara Perez
BY Claude Thau
ON November 22, 2014 05:01 PM
Thanks for a very informative article! It is good to see that philanthropy is stepping up to address this tragic situation, hopefully including supporting such children who stay in the USA. There are many things that are better done by philanthropy than by the government. (I’m not sayihg that the current government approach is appropriate; I’m not knowledgeable enough to judge. But it is harder for the government, than a non-profit, to be an advocate for people who feel unsafe where they live.)
BY Molly M Schmidt
ON November 22, 2014 09:48 PM
@MollyMSchmidt: Let’s be real. Many undocumented children are refugees. 70-90% kids have no legal guidance & they deserve it. Why is this a stumbling block? UNHCR refugee status needs to be examined in these cases - it’s not a blanket solution of rapid deportation. Sonia Nazario wrote a Pulitzer prize winning book on children’s flight, Enrique’s Journey. I urge anyone straddling the fence on the issue of undocumented children to read this documentary. Thank you Mara Perez for capturing the essence of the discussion. @SLNazario
BY Christine Begnoche
ON November 23, 2014 06:34 AM
I appreciate your insights on this situation. I’m uneasy about the president overstepping his powers but you make a good case for expediency in the face of the expediency with which these “poor, tired, yearning to be free” children are being kicked back into terrible situations.
BY Elizabeth Meloney
ON November 24, 2014 05:15 PM
Thank you for this very thoughtful and thought-provoking article. Immigration laws and the way they are being carried out, or not, is an inflamed wound in our country that needs to be uncovered and looked at with eyes wide open to determine the best, most balanced cure. We are a nation of laws, and I, too, am concerned about our president overstepping his executive powers. Mara, your article particularly resonates with me as I am equally concerned about the safety and well being of unaccompanied children migrating to the US and the evil agendas of those persons south and north of the border who would prey upon their innocence. It is my hope and prayer that through the assistance of organized philanthropists working with government we can quickly bring these children and young people to safety. Again, thank you for this important article.