No one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark
Warsan Shire
Immigration: Solve the problem at the Source, don’t simply address the Symptoms. How?
Democrats should present their constituents with a positive, proactive position on the refugee problem, acknowledging the need for a strong border and a careful screening of those who want to come here, but also offer a way to help those who are fleeing violence and poverty. I love Willie Nelson but not at all sure that his call for open borders and “YaAll come” is a workable idea.
This so-called Christian Country needs to implement a compassionate proactive policy to deal with the migrants on our southern border. The vast majority of these are fleeing the violence and poverty in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras (Northern Triangle) Simply treating the symptoms rather than the sources of the problems will fail. While acknowledging the need for a strong border and a careful screening of those who want to come here, we must also recognize that the U.S is in many ways responsible for the conditions causing the migrants to flee their homelands. For decades we have supported corrupt dictators and exploited the workers and natural resources of our southern neighbors. The result is a lawlessness where corrupt governments and drug gangs rule the society.
How many americans know about the role of the CIA and the United Fruit Company in the overthrow of the democratically elected Arbenz government of Guatemala or U.S. training of the battalion responsible for the El Mozote massacre in El Salvador?
Suggestions for how to solve this pressing problem: 1
Reinvigorate/Rebrand/Expand the PEACE CORPS by increasing their funding ten-fold. This would cost less than one-half of one percent of the defense and homeland security budgets and increase the number of volunteers from around 2,600 to more than 26,000. I strongly believe there are many of our citizens who believe in the values exemplified by the Peace Corps and would step forward to make America care again. Charge the organization with the following:
Focus on those coming from the Northern Triangle, helping them schedule a date for their hearing. Rather than leaving them at the border, FOLLOW THEM HOME. With the help of the UN,NGO’s and the tech sector, direct money, resources and personnel to help the migrants protect themselves and modernize and diversify their economies. This would include training experts in community policing – PEACE OFFICERS, not military personnel, capable of working with local law enforcement to protect citizens from drug and gang violence. Monies could also go towards farm implements, medicines, building supplies and other materials that would help rebuild these societies.
.With the help of the UN, direct money, resources and personnel to help refugees protect themselves and develop their economies including experts in policing (not military – you don’t need a fighter jet to arrest a drug lord or help build a school).
My hope is that those running for office will not avoid this issue and present to the voting public specific solutions that are shaped by love and compassion, rather than hate and fear
TV ADD TO CONVEY THIS:
Scene 1:
Shots of wall and fence (drones?) and bad actor(s) sneaking across and apprehended by border guards
“Yes, we need a strong border to protect us against those who would do us harm.”
Scene 2:
Focus on a family reuniting on the southern side of the wall (children with parents). Convey the Republican evil of separating them. Focus on large number of peasants, women, children and make the point that they are innocent victims.
Scene 3:
Show the conditions that drove them to our border: drug gang violence and impoverished infrastructure (schools, hospitals….
Scene 4:
Show a large number of victims waiting to enter our country. Explain that in order to sort out the few bad apples, we need to ask them to wait and it can take months. But we will not leave the innocent victims waiting that long – we will give them an appointment in the future when they can plead their case. But we will not make them wait at the wall. Show Peace Corps Officers handing them appointment slips and telling them:
Scene 5:
WE SHALL NOT ABANDON YOU. WE SHALL FOLLOW YOU HOME AND HELP YOU BUILD STRONG AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. SHOW PEACE CORPS OFFICERS IN UNIFORMS HELPING THEM DEAL WITH CRIME AND POVERTY IN THEIR HOMELANDS, POLICING NEIGHBORHOODS. SHOTS OF JOHN DEERE TRACTORS AND OTHER AMERICAN PRODUCTS THAT ARE NEEDED.
- Implementation and funding for these programs can come from four State Department accounts: International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE); Nonproliferation, Anti-Terrorism, Demining and Relations Programs; Foreign Military Financing; and the Economic Support Fund. In addition, there are various agencies implementing CARSI objectives outside the State Department’s funding purview: the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Department of the Treasury. A number of security assistance accounts, such as the International Military Education and Training (which promotes professional military education) and the Democracy Fund supplement these initiatives.
See: https://files.peacecorps.gov/documents/open-government
FY2023.PeaceCorps.AFR_Final.pd