Why punish the children?
If one attempts to follow the gyrations of Trump policy – assuming that there is such a thing as policy – they are likely to contract whiplash.
He played to his ugly impulses and his base when he indicated throughout his campaign that we would somehow, and at enormous expense, evict all 11 million or more illegal immigrants from our country, including children.
Later, in a rare moment of decency and compassion, the president indicated that he would be merciful and humane to the approximately 800,000 Dreamers – children who were brought here illegally by their parents, but who have established themselves as solid, law-abiding, contributing members of society. He praised these children, told them that they “shouldn’t be very worried,” and “I do have a big heart. We’re going to take care of everybody.”
So much for that.
Trump has now returned to his heartless position that all who are here outside the confines of the law must go, electing to end protection for the 800,000 Dreamers. He has now decreed that the program will end in six months unless Congress comes up with a replacement, something which is not likely to take place in a body controlled by Republicans, many of them anti-immigrant, and in a body which is mired in hyper-partisanship, extremism, chaos, and turmoil, unable to pass any meaningful legislation.
A hallmark of our country is that we have traditionally declined to hold children responsible for the actions of their parents, hence we have the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) – which is now in jeopardy as it faces looming expiration – and WIC (Women with Infants and Children), a supplemental nutrition program. Under the Trump administration, as signaled by his action on the Dreamers, we will enter an era in which we punish children whose parents acted irresponsibly.
A country which has traditionally been known for its humanity, compassion, and decency is rapidly becoming unrecognizable to its citizens and to the world.
Oren M. Spiegler
Upper St. Clair