humanitarian extremism

Is it just to deny impoverished immigrant workers entry into the US? I would argue no, it isn't. Consider this contrived little parable that I made up: The water pipe breaks in your neighborhood, cutting off you and your neighbors' water supply. Luckily for your family, your dad is one of those "always be prepared" boy scout types, so you have a stockpile of bottled water in your basement. It's really hot out, and your neighbor's family is showing symptoms of severe heat stroke. Would you keep the water for yourselves, or share with your neighbors and keep them alive? You paid for all the water, and you have no idea how long it will be until the pipe is fixed again. Is the situation of denying the immigrant worker a job different from denying the neighbor water? Should the potential adverse effect on your own family prevent you from helping your neighbor?

Many Americans are outraged that "illegals" are taking jobs, clogging ERs, disrupting education, and "imposing" their cultures on America. These are all valid concerns (except the last one), and I don't mean to sound too condescending by dismissing them, but quite frankly, I think it's ridiculous that Americans feel like immigrants owe them a huge debt. I'll go back to the water analogy - it's like expecting your neighbors to pay you for the water you give them after they have been helping you to fix your broken pipes the entire day. Immigrants, illegal or legal, work in America's economy, to benefit American consumers. American companies take advantage of the poverty in their home countries by hiring cheap labor. U.S. interference in countries like Nicaragua and Haiti perpetuated civil wars and propped up dictatorships against the people's wishes. Our addiction to drugs gives cartels and gangs the funds they need to continue to destabilize entire regions (and governments, for that matter).

And we complain that they aren't paying taxes on their meager paychecks.

Is it possible for us to let go of our self-interests, our nationalism, and our pride to realize that maybe it is we who owe them something? Like a few of our opportunities in this "land of opportunity?" I didn't earn my status as an American - I just happened to be born in the right place. I see no reason not to share my resources with people who did not have the luck that I had. The "illegals" are no less worthy of a dignified, fulfilling life than I am, so who am I to deny them the pursuit of happiness?