I don’t profess to be any sort of expert in politics at any level. In fact, the Presidential elections of November 2004 were the first time I have ever voted. Politics is a relatively new thing for me, and an overwhelming one at that. This specific class experience was really exciting for me as I learned a lot about the origins of our democratic process, how it works today, and the complexities of the political life. In fact, each night we met in class we ALL learned. I felt that at some level, being Christians in a Christian course, that we were all learning together as one. Though, the last night of class brought it all home. I was reminded that often faith is but merely the surface rust when it comes to mixing Christianity and American politics. I left that night reminded, that on a whole different level, we were not one.

The political conversation about “what to do about the Mexicans” was unsettling for me being that I am direct descendent of first generation Mexicans. Both of my parents were born in Mexico, English was my second language, and I am now to be the first in my family to graduate from college. In all fairness to this issue, there ARE so many variables and aspects to this conversation that I sense are important. From economic concerns, to welfare issues, to labor frustrations, and the ever present challenge of terrorism. While these are only but a handful of the vast array of intricate details within this issue, issues that are of great concern for many Americans and myself included, I sense that there is something else going on here. While even though the focus of the “Immigration Reform” encompasses all these issues, and many other various issues on its front page, the real visible target centers on a specific people group. Our Mexican neighbors to the south.

As I sat in class during this conversation, my mind started to wander. I reminisced on the many summers spent at my grandmother’s broken down house in Reynosa, Mexico. On images of my aunt’s home in Mexico that is the very definition of an aluminum house in shambles. Then I thought on my life experiences and reflections of all the undocumented Mexicans in the H.I.V./AIDS field I have come across, and my heart became concerned. This seems more than just a mere Patriotic issue. Mr. John Marshall mentioned the magnitude and possible implications of such a tension-filled reform. Such things like whether or not such a reform would mean seeking out undocumented Mexicans and sending them across the border. Or methods of how to screen/profile current undocumented peoples and deport them. Ideas about maybe even forcing employers, or any other type of organization that helps undocumented peoples, to report them to the government (or face penalties for not reporting them where helping illegal immigrants at any level might become against the law). All these uncertainties and possibilites about "Immigration Reform" began to sound like a political issue that very much needed the church more than ever.

Unfortunately, many of the faith-based political heavy hitters support career politicians that largely favor Immigration Reform in this yet broad and undefined sense. They do so because they are more concerned with issues of abortion and gay marriage that these politicians support. Though, I feel that people of faith perhaps misinterpret the potential harm this might do to the human beings who also count. Or perhaps these unlawful peoples, that come in under the radar, and don’t pay taxes, need to just be someone else’s problem. In fact, when these people group largely present a crisis to the nation’s Protestant Anglo identity and refuse to assimilate easily into mainstream America, why not just choose to be an American Patriot on this issue? This approach makes sense because as Americans, sending them back is the compassionate thing to do. We don’t want people to be poor in our great country, or shaping the language of our nation, and defining the faith of our forefathers. As Americans, under God we had this land first. And as our rightful claim, unless they are going to help the nation excel, then maybe it is best that they find somewhere else to be poor.

Questions to ponder:
Is Immigration Reform an issue of faith?
Does such an issue affect the way the church is able to reach these people now?