To: President Donald Trump and The United States Senate
President Obama: Stop the XXI Century Trail of Tears
President Obama,
Please issue immediately an executive order stopping all deportations of non-criminal, otherwise law-abiding, undocumented immigrants.
Please stop immediately the ever-growing tide of tears caused by the destruction of law-abiding families of undocumented immigrants, when loved ones are deported.
At this moment, when Congress has started the formal process of discussing Immigration Reform proposals, specifically the bill put forth by "the Gang of Eight" in the US Senate, issuing such an executive order will, in our opinion:
1. Stop immediately this modern form of "cruel and unusual punishment," and thus the immense suffering caused by it - not only to deported individuals but, more importantly, to families left behind, often times without their main source of financial support, and entire communities where these families have settled and built roots.
2. Set the tone for discussions in the Congress on the humanitarian goals that should drive Immigration Reform Legislation when it comes to addressing the human rights of more than 11 million undocumented immigrants that currently live in this country, "in the shadows:" an "underclass" frequently subject to flagrant abuse, with the impunity of victims not speaking out for fear of deportation.
Please issue immediately an executive order stopping all deportations of non-criminal, otherwise law-abiding, undocumented immigrants.
Please stop immediately the ever-growing tide of tears caused by the destruction of law-abiding families of undocumented immigrants, when loved ones are deported.
At this moment, when Congress has started the formal process of discussing Immigration Reform proposals, specifically the bill put forth by "the Gang of Eight" in the US Senate, issuing such an executive order will, in our opinion:
1. Stop immediately this modern form of "cruel and unusual punishment," and thus the immense suffering caused by it - not only to deported individuals but, more importantly, to families left behind, often times without their main source of financial support, and entire communities where these families have settled and built roots.
2. Set the tone for discussions in the Congress on the humanitarian goals that should drive Immigration Reform Legislation when it comes to addressing the human rights of more than 11 million undocumented immigrants that currently live in this country, "in the shadows:" an "underclass" frequently subject to flagrant abuse, with the impunity of victims not speaking out for fear of deportation.
Why is this important?
The Obama administration so far has deported over ONE MILLION non-criminal, otherwise law-abiding, undocumented immigrants: family women and men contributing to Society and pursuing their American Dream.
That is an order of magnitude larger than the forced relocation of American Indians from their homelands in the Southeast to the Southwest, in what came to be called "The Trail of Tears." In this, its XXI century version, however, it could be argued the pain is even worse, and the tears more abundant. Families, where the dearest and most important human bonds reside, are broken apart by senseless and needless actions of the Government - and at great expense to the taxpayers, may we add.
That is an order of magnitude larger than the forced relocation of American Indians from their homelands in the Southeast to the Southwest, in what came to be called "The Trail of Tears." In this, its XXI century version, however, it could be argued the pain is even worse, and the tears more abundant. Families, where the dearest and most important human bonds reside, are broken apart by senseless and needless actions of the Government - and at great expense to the taxpayers, may we add.