Immigration

 

ICE agents shot and killed an American named Lorenzo Araujo in Houston a few days ago. I say “American” because that is what he was. He was not a citizen, and his residency papers were not in order, but he had live here for over thirty years, worked productively, created and built his own business, and raised three American sons. That makes him an American in my book, and, on the surface (which is all I can know), a pretty good one. The excuse for killing him was that he drove toward one of their agents after his vehicle was stopped. I have read that there is evidence on video contradicting that claim. Regardless, that act by itself would not justify firing on him if no one’s life was threatened. The right response to what agents claimed he did, would be for any agent who happened to be in front of the vehicle to get out of the way and then for agents to stop him and arrest him. An ordinary civilian who had to jump back from somebody pulling out toward him in a parking lot would be in trouble in most jurisdictions if he reacted by pulling out a pistol and shooting the driver dead. Employees of the government should be held to the same standard.

I understand that open borders are incompatible with a welfare state, and I surely understand that the American welfare state is not going anywhere. I think Trump’s administration was right to close the borders to illegal immigration. I do not oppose deporting illegal immigrants who are criminals or security risks or even some of those who are neither but arrived during the time of open borders during Biden’s administration. However, I believe illegal immigrants who have been in the country a good while and are settled, law abiding members of society should be left alone, especially those who have spouses or children who are citizens or permanent residents. They should not be eligible for naturalization, and surely should not vote, but they should be left alone. There are lots of good Americans among them.