Throughout history, defining moments occur…moments when rhetoric, “loud hosannas,” and “straddling the fence” won’t fly. There are times when individuals are compelled to show forth their “real.” We are facing one of those moments now…
Today our Nation’s President made a decision to end the DACA program. “DACA” stands for, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Congress has been given six months to address the issue of undocumented immigrants that came to the U.S. as children – an issue that has evaded a resolution for decades.
In the article, “What is DACA? A look at rescinded immigrant programme,” AlJazeera News provides an overview of how approximately 800,000 undocumented immigrants ended up in the predicament of potential deportation if the United States Congress does not legislate comprehensive immigration laws in six months.
For those who do not understand what’s going on, here are some “fast facts…”
- DACA was created by then-president Barack Obama in 2012 after intense pressure from advocates who wanted protections for the young immigrants who were mostly raised in the US but lacked legal status.Some feel that “the Law is the Law” and there is a clear cut answer to the problem – simply deport them and send them back to where they came from. Some believe that these young people are “taking their jobs,” committing crimes, bringing down our country and are receiving benefits that they don’t deserve.
- The programme protects them from deportation - granting them a two-year reprieve that can be extended and by issuing them a work permit and social security number.
- DACA recipients must have no criminal record, proof they were brought to the US before age 16, and be under 31 when the programme was launched but at least 15-years old when applying.
- The application cost is nearly $500 and permits must be renewed every two years. The application and renewal process take several weeks.
- DACA does not give beneficiaries legal US residency. Recipients get temporary reprieves from deportation and permission to temporarily work.
- Frustration grew during the Obama administration over repeated failures to pass the "Dream Act", which would have provided a path to legal US citizenship for the young immigrants who ended up becoming DACA beneficiaries and became known as "Dreamers."
- The last major attempt to pass the legislation was in 2011.
- Immigrant activists staged protests and participated in civil disobedience in an effort to push Obama to act after Congress did not pass legislation. DACA is different than the Dream Act because it does not provide a pathway to legal residency or citizenship. (Information obtained from, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/09/daca-rescinded-immigrant-programme-170905192454024.html )
According to Micah 6:8, at this defining moment in history, the people of God are being called upon to “Do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.” Imagine being dragged out of your home, off of your job, out of your school, “round up” with others like you, thrown on an airplane and dropped off in a country that you know little or nothing about, don’t speak their language, and have no means of providing for yourself – no job, no home, no money, no food, no family or friends, no resources, no hope!
That’s what mass deportation looks like for 800,000 human beings. May we have a “Selah” moment… “pause and think about that…
Will the “real” Christians please stand up???
Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com
Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org
Selah, indeed.
ReplyDeleteThere are several things wrong with your blog post. One serious error is your assertion that the DACA designees are American "citizens". They are not, and should they want to stay here, they need to become citizens.
ReplyDeleteMany of them do have family in the nation they left.You will not allow non-members to have the same rights as members of your congregation. Non-citizens do not have the same rights as citizens.
Obama said he did not have the authority to create what DACA does. Then he did it anyway! It was unconstitutional.
I am a "real Christian" and I am standing up to your errors.Selah.
Dear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteI respect your opinion. While I understand your frustration with individuals coming into America illegally, many who hold your same sentiments appear to ignore the very factors that promote illegal immigration. The impetus for many to come to America illegally begins with employers who are unwilling to pay a decent wage to American citizens. Therefore, they exploit desperate people who are not in a position to complain. They are paid little to nothing and their work benefits the masses. To be clear, I am in no way in favor of people coming into our country illegally and demanding rights. I AM, however, filled with compassion for young people who came to America, no fault of their own, were raised, an educated here...have known no other country or language and in MANY instances DO NOT have people to who they could "return" if shoved out of America. Mercy suits their case.