We need to be afraid. Millions of people will come across our borders. Many are rapists and murderers. President Trump likes to remind us whenever he can of how dangerous immigrants are. In fact, a Gallup poll last year showed that almost half of Americans think that immigrants make crime worse.
Actually, a recent study published by the Cato Institute found that undocumented immigrants were much less likely (56 percent less) than native-born residents to be convicted of a crime. Other studies have shown that cities with more immigrants have lower crime rates than those with less. We could make a case for encouraging immigration to help lower the crime rate.
I suppose if the president made a big deal every time a Sunday school teacher was convicted of a crime, we may begin to wonder about them. Also, undocumented immigrants do not qualify for welfare, food stamps, Medicaid and most other public benefits. In fact, legal immigrants can’t receive those benefits until they have been in the U.S. for more than five years.
I know fear is an effective tool for politicians, but we need leadership that brings us together, not pitting us against each other. As George McGovern (former senator from South Dakota) said, “It is time for this land to become again a witness to the world for what is noble and just in human affairs. It is time to live more with faith and less with fear — Come home, America!”
