Carol Anne Costa: The Pope, the Pols and the People

Carol Anne Costa: The Pope, the Pols and the People

Pope Francis delivered a message this week to the Mexico-Holy See Colloquium on Migration and Development, where he called for a change in the way migrants are viewed, and in particular, the overwhelming numbers of unaccompanied children. His words are powerful and filled with mercy, while also balancing the realities of these often times, forsaken journeys, and the fractured conditions of the countries from which these humans are fleeing. Pope Francis said in part, “This humanitarian emergency requires, as a first urgent measure, that these children be welcomed and protected.”  He also admonished receiving nations to be effective and forward thinking on immigrant policy decisions stating, “Unless they are accompanied by policies that inform people about the dangers of such a journey and, above all, that promote development in their countries of origin.” It appears to me, the Pope has yet again clarified the fine line we walk as it relates to this terrible crisis.

I agree with the Pope, as for me these children are refugees first, pure and simple. They are products of violent and murderous living conditions, who have become prey for unscrupulous smugglers, vicious despots and now, whether we like it or not, belong to us. No matter the length of stay or the institution of due process, these people must be housed, fed, and cared for, either long term or short term. The inundation of helpless children who seek refuge from broken and dangerous Central American countries is proving to test our moral compass. We remain a nation founded in the principles of  law and values that invite the huddled masses who seek refuge. Yet the push back is loud, angry, passionate and often troubling. It appears we are not used to our borders being pummeled with a constant march of refugees.  All the name calling in the world cannot change that fact. I do find it sadly ironic that we, who over the past decade, in our quest to create burgeoning democracies and nation build in the middle east have helped to generate refugee hordes seeking shelter in border countries throughout that corner of the world. In fact, the numbers are staggering.  

So, the finger pointing, posturing, assessing “the optics,” political brinkmanship, and act of not governing do nothing to address the situation as it lives on the ground in America. To position the 52,000+ children currently at our doorstep as political footballs to be kicked, punted, and spiked as if they are not children at all, is not in keeping at all with our nation's heritage. We should reject the temptation to label and deal with the masses as if they were our own children; help first, and provide due process and deport later. Be mindful, we will be as a nation, sending scores back to face torture and death by the very violent and murderous regimes and gangs that brought them here initially.

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Let us not forget the dangerous and too many times deadly trek to find shelter and stability within the borders of the United States of America. Many arriving in the arms of young mothers and some completely alone, often beaten, abused, and sexually assaulted along the way. The images and the words from the mouths of these babes on a journey for safe haven are heartbreaking and cause me to ponder and pray for them and us as a nation, as I only hope we can find a way to balance this unfolding humanitarian crisis.

Yet we can witness the visceral reaction to these immigration issues is becoming the staple. The Murieta, CA standoff replete with the “USA” chant followed by screams of “Go Back Home” had the desired result, thus turning back the buses holding the kids who arrived traveling the path of danger and death. The rhetoric to me, is antithetical to our tested values, but it makes me wonder why we have strayed so far from our nurture first nature. A 2008 anti-trafficking law signed by President Bush and passed unanimously in the Senate, has given different postures to various immigrant children; non contiguous immigrants are given shelter and due process as contiguous folks are turned back immediately. This has had a great impact on the debate and the situation on the ground in the US border states.

I question our elected officials on both sides of the aisle, as they have turned their collective back on governing.  A slow slog rife with distrust, name calling, and finger pointing is all I hear emanating from Washington DC, with the lone exception of Senator John Cornyn and Representative Henry Cuellar who are working to provide a bipartisan bill addressing the crisis. But, the question remains, can anything get done in Congress? I have my doubts as Mr. Boehner is suing and the President is wooing.

In the meantime children are being used as human shields, foils, and fodder for our own shortcomings and apparent inability to get to work to forge policies that make our deteriorating immigration crisis at least responsive to the immediate problems. 

Carol Costa is a public relations and community outreach specialist; she has experience in both the public and private sectors. She is the Chairwoman of the Scituate Democratic Town Committee and has extensive community affairs and public relations experience. She previously served in the Rhode Island Judiciary for nearly 17 years. Carol also enjoyed a successful development stint at the Diocese of Providence as Associate Director for Catholic Education and is currently the Executive Director of the Warren Housing Authority. Her work has been published in several local outlets including GoLocal, Valley Breeze, The Rhode Island Catholic, and Currents Magazine.