The rhetoric as well as the implementation of immigration policy from Washington, D.C., erodes the United States' self-expectation for managing to be compassionate while respecting the rule of law.
At least we used to expect compassion of ourselves. The United States needs a fairer system of legal immigration and strong enforcement to prevent illegal immigration, but hauling kids away from parents apprehended as they enter our country? Sure, argue about how they're breaking the law all you want. This isn't about what they're doing. It about what our country is doing to them. And it's not right.
What’s the point?
This region’s U.S. attorney appears to approach immigration matters with a great dose of Arkansas common sense.
President Trump is big on his "America first" approach to governance. Fine. It's not unique. Despite political differences, presidents throughout the history of the nation have kept America first. Just because a president does something one disagrees with doesn't mean he's unpatriotic or giving the needs of some other nation higher priority. Let's consistently apply the America first idea and acknowledge that whatever mess this nation has with illegal immigration, it's one of its own making. Let's not treat people who cross the border illegally as though we need to take some pound of flesh due us. As a nation, we are, or have been, better than that.
The president insists his administration is just enforcing the laws of Congress, because the law is the law. It's ludicrous to suggest the administration has no discretion in the matter. If it's tearing families apart, it's doing so because Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Trump believe it's the way to achieve what they want politically.
We're glad Arkansans, generally speaking, apply more common sense. Take, for example, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, Duane "DAK" Kees. In a recent interview with Fort Smith's Southwest Times Record, explained how a focus on crime-committing immigrants is the most effective use of limited manpower and resources of his office.
"I take that person off the street, and there is literally a reduction in crime. I have done something to better a community," Kees said. "I take a mother or father of five who has been here illegally but has been here for 20 years, is raising a family and has a good job? I take him or her out of the home, and his or her only crime is being here? I don't think I've done much good to that community."
Kees is not saying anyone is off the hook. He is following orders from Sessions. But he's recognizing the realities of his circumstances and putting the efforts of his office where they will do the most good for the communities he serves.
As usual, the rhetoric of Washington doesn't always translate into realistic policy on the street. In this case, we're glad for it.
Commentary on 06/16/2018