Sarah, Eric, and I got home from our whirlwind trip to Tucson on Monday afternoon. We went as a Borderlinks delegation with other YAVs from the Southwest to learn about immigration issues and cross over into the Mexican half of the city of Nogales. While it was energizing to see our YAV friends and really helpful to contextualize my work, the trip overall was physically and psychologically taxing. I'm still processing the trip and will probably revisit it in future blog posts; there is just too much to unpack all at once. Seeing firsthand what I usually only view from behind a computer screen hit me really hard.
The question that I can't avoid is one that came up when we reflected as a group -- should we even try to abide by the law when it contradicts our values?
If you haven't guessed by now, I take a very liberal stance on immigration issues. At the heart of everything I do is my strong belief that all of God's children are equal, regardless of where they are born. According to my faith, US immigration policy runs counter to Christ's command to reflect God's love by welcoming the stranger. Simply put, our laws are unjust. But I don't know if I would have the courage to break them.
If you found a migrant in the desert, what would you do? Would you give him food and water and then turn your back? Turn him in to Border Patrol knowing that you were sending him back to violence and dire poverty? Drive him to safety and, in doing so, risk fifteen years in prison?
I wish I could say that I would flaunt federal law in the service of my brother in Christ, but I know that until the opportunity arises I can't be sure. In the meantime, I'll be behind my desk trying to make a difference in legal ways.
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