Letter: Immigration reform, yes; walls, no

The Hispanic community and its advocates in the Lowcountry are frustrated, disappointed, and anguished over the recent vote by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of the president’s executive action to extend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and to provide temporary relief from deportation for up to 4.5 million parents of American citizen children.

Such parents have come to this country for the same reason other immigrants have come here — for a chance at the American dream. They work hard, feed their families, educate their children, work at low wage jobs that other Americans don’t want, attend our churches, and contribute mightily to the life we live in our Lowcountry community — all while living in the shadows.

The Supreme Court action does not adversely affect the original DACA program of 2012 and sets no precedent as to whether the action is or is not constitutional. The reality is that the program is remanded to the original district court in Texas, which is headed by a virulent anti-immigrant judge.

Our immigration system is broken, but the 2014 Senate bill that called for comprehensive immigration reform was not allowed a vote in the House of Representatives. That bill, which increased border security, required numerous conditions for remaining in the country — including passing a criminal check, heavy fines, and the need to learn English — is what Congress needs to consider again. Sixty-five percent of Americans support a path to citizenship.

Reform, yes. Walls, no!

This story was originally published July 7, 2016 at 10:55 PM with the headline "Letter: Immigration reform, yes; walls, no."