These children are ours

I can’t do much about the legion dire situations in the world. I’m often not sure what the right thing to do would be. My husband says the best idea is to assume an Islamic attitude when disasters strike, say, “God is great,” and keep on. But these children at the border are on my doorstep, brought here in large part because of our own doing. And some Americans are already taking right actions about it.

Recent history: We blocked drug trade from Columbia, which moved it to primarily Mexican drug cartels, who, while giving Mexico plenty of grief, have also set up shop in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. These countries have weak governments and much poverty, ideal breeding grounds for drug dealers. What we do in the world has unintended consequences. You’d think we’d know that by now.

Need I mention the U.S. market is the main client drug cartels exist to supply? Or that our role in destabilizing those countries governments has been suspect for decades? Today Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador have some of the highest murder and poverty rates in the world. Drug people come into schools and tell 10-year-old children, “you work for us or you die, you take these drugs or you die, you deliver these drugs or we kill your sister.”

The law George W. Bush signed, the Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, says any child from a country not adjacent to the United States—that is, not Mexico or Canada—who appears at the border unaccompanied must be given an immigration hearing. It was a well-intended law, aimed at stopping sex trafficking. But life has gone from bad to worse in Central America since then. Down there, rumor has it that the law means if you’re a minor and get across the border they can’t send you back. You’ll be safe. You’ll have a chance to have a life. Two things you can’t have in the place where you were born.

These children are refugees, fleeing extreme violence and poverty. Over a third are hoping to reunite with family members who came here before them. To get this far, they’ve spent every cent they had or borrowed, endured beatings, attacks, lack of food and water, the risk of enslavement and death. All to reach a place where there might be hope. To be met by people screaming at them.

As Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick reminded us recently, in 1939, to our everlasting shame, we turned away a ship with 1,000 Jews on board, many women and children. It is estimated that over half the people on that ship died in the Holocaust. I will not be party to the repetition of such an act. Sending these children back is sending them into the hands of drug lords.

Our pathetic politicians are making political footballs of juveniles. But grassroots America has risen to the occasion as decent Americans always do. They make me proud. They’re doing the right thing.

I’m giving what I can to these groups. I hope you will too. I hope you’ll pass this on. Here are some of the organizations helping. Add others if you know more. Pass it on.

Texas Young Democrats: they have a basic necessities wish list on Amazon. Their website has information: http://www.texasyds.com/

Catholic Charities of Central Texas is currently seeking donations to help with immigration legal services and family support service for these children. See the website for more information: http://ccctx.org/ils/unaccompaniedminors/

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) has an up-to-date website focused on this border crisis with the latest news about it and solicits cash donations: http://www.supportkind.org/en/