The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it plans to list monarch butterflies as an endangered species because of the impact on the species due to climate change. Unfortunately, the incoming administration will not extend that protection to the U.S. born children of undocumented or even legal noncitizens.
In an interview this past Sunday Trump said that US born children of immigrant parents have no right to be here in the United States in spite of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. So rather than separating children from parents, he’ll just deport US citizens. Clearly, there will be a fight on his approach of ignoring the Constitution.
It gets worse. Steven Miller, the grandson of a Jew who came to Ellis Island in 1903, and who brought his younger brothers later, now wants to de-naturalize US citizens so they become “aliens,” as were his grandparents. Since Trump’s mother was born in Scotland, under Steven Miller’s plan, could he be deported? Now, there’s a thought.
Prayer for the Day
From across the world they came here to a promised land,
A land that would welcome those creating a new nation;
But, O God, we now live in selfish and fearful times,
No longer welcoming those whose labor makes our lives possible.
Awaken us from the disdain pushed on us by others,
People who have forgotten where they came from.
In the name of the One who welcomes all,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
Emma Lazarus, from The New Colossus, on the Statue of Liberty
Far, we’ve been traveling far,
Without a home, but not without a star . . .
Neil Diamond, from the song Coming to America
When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. You shall treat the alien who resides with you as a fellow citizen. You shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.
Leviticus 19:33-34