Letter to the Editor from Lilburn, Ga

Published: January 18, 2007

To the Editor:

I felt compelled to comment upon this article by Archbishop Wilton Gregory (“How The Church Arrived At Its Immigration Positions,” The Georgia Bulletin, Jan. 11).

While appreciative of the thoughts, and agreeing with the concept of human dignity through just labor, I take issue with the conclusion.

It is a subject which obviously stirs strong passions on both sides of the issue.

The article’s references to migration seem to divorce it (migration) from the rule of law or the maintenance of sovereign borders, justifying it on the basis of a Christian approach to the situation, coupled with a historical legacy of migration.

These migrants have not entered this country legally through process. Our country has long had an immigration policy, generally followed by those wishing to migrate to the United States. Is that policy perfect? Absolutely not. Can it be improved? Absolutely. Should we constantly seek to improve that policy? Absolutely. But any well-directed approach to improvement mean nothing if the policy lacks validity due to its being widely ignored by both the immigrant and by our government.

I, too, think that we should—as we always have—“welcome the stranger” via legal channels and without burdening the taxpayer. The objection is not toward immigration, but toward uncontrolled, unlawful immigration.

It is my contention that anyone who enters this country illegally should, at minimum, be no burden to the citizens of this country. Yet, these aliens bring many needs with them, and given the realistic expectation that their families are desirous of joining them will, in time, only exacerbate the demands upon the social services delivery system in this country.

Given that they are uninvited, unexpected and often unable to provide for their own basic necessities, it is likely to expect this country’s taxpayers to incur a considerable cost to care for them. Estimates run as high as trillions of dollars.

If the Catholic Church encourages, and believes it correct, to have these aliens flow unimpeded into this country, I respect that as their considered moral position. I think then that it is proper that the Catholic Church also step forward and announce that they are willing to pay the cost of this grand relocation. Would the Church agree with this approach?

As a Catholic, I will support it financially as best I can on the simple premise of Catholic charity.

As a U.S. taxpayer, I oppose it totally.

John LeBlanc, Lilburn