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Q&A – Should Florida Stop Non-Profits from Relocating Undocumented Minors?
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Today’s Entry: What’s your opinion of the leaders in faith opposing DeSantis’ migrant minor policy opposition?
Bottom Line: I’m happy to offer up an opinion but let's first establish the facts – upon which my opinion is based. One of the pricklier proposals to be advancing in the state legislative session is one that would meaningfully change the landscape of how minors unlawfully entering the country can be handled by agencies in the state of Florida. Many of which are faith-based which is a prominent reason why numerous clergy have weighed in during the debate. Here’s a look at what the legislation actually is and what it would do if signed into law...
The legislation entitled Immigration Enforcement’s summary goes as follows: Requires law enforcement agency operating county detention facility to enter into specified agreement with U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement to assist with immigration enforcement; requires such agency to report specified information quarterly to FDLE; prohibits governmental entity from executing, amending, or renewing contract with common carriers or contracted carriers under certain circumstances; requires specified governmental entity contracts with common carriers or contracted carriers to include specified provisions. As far as legislation goes – it’s rather straightforward. This legislation mandates that all law enforcement agencies, which take in those who lack legal immigration status, register with and regularly supply information about those who lack status with ICE and the state of Florida. Additionally, and this is the crux of the blowback by those in opposition, it threatens the licenses of organizations which house and relocate minors who lack status - in addition to state funds. As part of the licensing process to operate a shelter or foster organization, there must be what’s called “evidence of need” in Florida. This legislation would prevent the housing and relocating of those who lack legal status being used as evidence of need.
With those facts established let’s dive into the merits of the proposal. Starting with a the question. Do you think the state of Florida should be responsible for aiding in the housing and permanent relocating of illegal immigrants? For all of the reporting on the numerous “faith-based” leaders standing in opposition to this proposal that basic question hasn't seemingly been asked – at least that I’ve come across. Interesting. You wanted my opinion. I don’t feel it’s appropriate for any agency to aid illegal immigration. It’s a practice based on a false premise due to the unlawful status of these individuals. Additionally, its completely unjustified in my view to have Florida taxpayers foot the bill for housing and relocating illegal immigrants.
Independent of the specificity of this issue, and the attempted emotional appeal of granting legitimacy to unlawfully immigrating minors, my stance is no different than it would be for any other issue. We’re a country and a state of laws. It’s up to us to elect representatives who can make, change or eliminate them, however its not up to us to only abide by the ones we like. Being a faith-based organization doesn’t equate to amnesty from laws of their choosing. And the bigger issue is this. What these “faith-based” leaders are doing is engaging in the opposite of compassion. As is often the case when people choose to aid unlawful behavior, there are consequences. Illegal immigration, regardless of the perceived age (because ages aren’t known for those who lack legal status) is an inherent injustice to all legal immigrants and to all taxpayers forced to pay for the unlawful behavior. Additionally, as has been well documented, organizations aiding and abetting those without status encourage more illegal behavior. Not only is that another injustice associated with the practice, it comes with an incalculable human price.
The price that is literally paid to organized human traffickers most commonly associated with the most heinous Mexican cartels to get these “unaccompied minors” across our border. Not only do the traffickers use resources paid to them for nefarious purposes – but there are untold numbers of people of all ages who go missing, are sold into sex slavery, die making the trek towards our southern border, etc. In other words, organizations who facilitate these operations in our state and across the country are directly responsible for aiding and abetting all of those horrible realities. Not only is it not compassionate, but it's also amoral. If the Pope himself attempted to make the case- there's no changing the facts or realities of what I just discussed. Wrong is wrong and what the state has proposed addresses those wrongs but is also compassionate as the best possible public policy – is policy which discourages illegal behavior.