“Deport the Pilgrims,” opines the graffiti on the mailbox at 18th and S St., NW in D.C. This urban art illustrates my point exactly. How does a nation WHOLLY comprised of immigrants decide that the doors are closed?

My family came to America in the period between 1860 and the 1880s (albeit legally). I am sure the Anglo-Saxon immigrants that had already settled in New York and Savannah were pretty unhappy when the boatloads of tired, weathered Eastern European Jews showed up on Ellis Island and elsewhere.

I don’t understand how today is any different. I believe the people and the organizations that represent those who have a fear of illegal immigration really have a fear of the un-whitening of America (one ex: http://www.mothersagainstillegalaliens.org). Help us all if America is not a white majority!!

The ongoing guestimate is that we have upwards of 12 million illegal immigrants in America, largely Hispanic. How does maintaining the status quo of the current system actually help to DEAL with this problem? Should we be rounding up hard working illegal immigrants who create a backbone of the U.S. economy (think seasonal agricultural workers in California)? Some of the fallacious arguments on the subject come to mind: illegal (and legal) immigrants stress our welfare system (we have one?), “they” refuse to learn English, “they” won’t assimilate (assimilate into a melting pot? hmm….), “they” don’t respect our laws.

We have to have a plan that deals with the ills of the current system. The status quo of underfunded U.S. agencies, massive raids and deportations, cities pitted against the feds, and splitting families up is just not acceptable. For once I actually liked a plan endorsed by G.W. Bush. Importantly, I think opposition to the plan had a heavily racist tinge to it. What do you make of this ongoing debate?

A new coalition of more than 100 largely evangelical Christian leaders and organizations asked Congress on Monday to pass bills to strengthen border controls but also give illegal immigrants ways to gain legal residency. The new group, Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, includes members like the Mennonite Church U.S.A.; the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, which represents Latino evangelicals; individuals like Dr. Joel C. Hunter, pastor of Northland, a megachurch in Longwood, Fla.; Sammy Mah, president of World Relief, an aid group affiliated with the National Association of Evangelicals; and Jim Wallis through Sojourners/Call to Renewal.

Wallis touched off a spark at a Sojourners press conference announcing the coalition, when he remarked, “If given the choice on this issue between Jesus and Lou Dobbs, I choose my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

Jim Wallis’s statement on Lou Doubs

Lou Dobb’s reply

The first 2 blog posts on Beliefnet responding to Wallis strongly emphasize his previous claims that, “religion does not have a monopoly on morality,” and that our public discourse be steeped in reason rather than trying to convince Congress to bend to scripture. It would be foolish, a blogger cautions, not to include those of other faith traditions (as well as the non-religious) in conversation about moral issues facing our county, and indeed you have to cherry pick one religion to find the points that support your side (as, admittedly, I’m doing here by only include two blog posts).