Compassion Cannot Be The Basis Of Immigration Policy

[mystery-ak]

Compassion Cannot Be The Basis Of Immigration Policy

Or if one is going to feel compassion, it must be for the well-being of the nation as a whole, especially the legal residents of that nation.

Steve McCann | January 20, 2026

What role should compassion play when enforcing immigration laws and dealing with illegal immigrants, particularly those who have been in the United States for a number of years?

That question came to the fore following a recent event that evolved into a well-publicized, emotion-driven debate. After dropping her daughter off at an elementary school, a woman, who as a child illegally immigrated to the country with her parents many years ago, was arrested and forcibly dragged out of her car by ICE agents after refusing to obey their orders and was then sent to an immigration detention center.

The initial reporting and public reaction centered around the ICE agents’ actions when they forced the woman to leave her car. This was followed by implications of cruelty and unfairness because she was facing deportation after living in the United States for many years. Much of the public was sympathetic to her plight and condemned ICE’s conduct.

The arrest came up during a recent dinner with our two closest friends. All acknowledged that this woman is and has been living in the country as an illegal immigrant.

I asked a question: “Does she have a criminal record and/or a pending deportation order?” The answer was “yes.”

more
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/01/compassion_cannot_be_the_basis_of_immigration_policy.html

[DefiantMassRINO]

What was compassionae about 9/11 and the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings?

What is compassionate about defrauding American citiziens on an industrial scale?

What is compassionate about limited Government resources for the poor being diverted from law-abiding American citizens to criminal illegal aliens?

What is compassionate to allow a class of 20+ million criminal illegal aliens to cheat and cut the line while law-abiding persons remain at the back of the line?

Compassion does not require law-abiding persons to be chumps for criminal illegal aliens and their lawlessness.

Compassion would be making their countries of origin better places to live.

[Cyber Liberty]

This is especially true when we let leftists define "compassion."

[Bigun]

This is especially true when we let leftists define "compassion."

  

[The_Reader_David]

Actually, granting asylum to those fleeing persecution -- a compassionate act -- worked fairly well as an immigration policy in the past.  What can't be part of immigration policy is letting people into the country unvetted.  Back when we took in those fleeing persecution, we didn't let in people who held ideologies opposed to our Constitutional order (e.g. Communism, Naziism, and I'd argue adherence to pretty much any fiqh of Islamic Sharia would qualify, though I'd probably be happy to let in Qu'ran-only Muslims, and maybe even Alawites, fleeing persecution by more traditional Muslims), and we didn't let in people who were likely to "become a public charge" (i.e. go on welfare, rather than supporting themselves and paying taxes).

[berdie]

I actually do have compassion toward people in the world suffering tyrannical governments, starvation and wanting a better life. But we can't risk our own country. 

[Smokin Joe]

If we let them sink the lifeboat, we all drown.
(Some of them are hell-bent on sinking it.)

[mountaineer]

This isn't about compassion. It's about lawlessness and the Democrats trying to flood the country with voters and welfare recipients.

[Bigun]

This isn't about compassion. It's about lawlessness and the Democrats trying to flood the country with voters and welfare recipients.

Cloward/Piven

[Kamaji]

Actually, granting asylum to those fleeing persecution -- a compassionate act -- worked fairly well as an immigration policy in the past.  What can't be part of immigration policy is letting people into the country unvetted.  Back when we took in those fleeing persecution, we didn't let in people who held ideologies opposed to our Constitutional order (e.g. Communism, Naziism, and I'd argue adherence to pretty much any fiqh of Islamic Sharia would qualify, though I'd probably be happy to let in Qu'ran-only Muslims, and maybe even Alawites, fleeing persecution by more traditional Muslims), and we didn't let in people who were likely to "become a public charge" (i.e. go on welfare, rather than supporting themselves and paying taxes).