This is the story of Jose ________.[i]
Jose is nearly 60 years old, a husband, father and grandfather – and an illegal
immigrant. He came without documentation to Texas from Mexico 40 years ago, and
has lived and worked here since that time. Some of his children and all of his
grandchildren are American citizens. Jose came illegally. Now we want to deport
him. But this isn’t something we haven’t known for 40 years! Jose’s employer
knew he was an illegal immigrant. His co-workers knew. People who used the
employer’s services knew. Folks who sold him gas and groceries knew. The man
who rented him a home knew. I knew.
Need I go on adding who knew? Churches. Local law enforcement. Jose benefitted from being
here, and we benefitted from his being here.
Now we want to deport him. We didn’t deport him 10
years ago. We didn’t deport him 20 years ago. We didn’t deport him 30 years
ago. We didn’t deport him 40 years ago. Now we want to deport him! What of all
of us who were complicit in aiding and abetting him? What is our sentence, our
fine, our punishment? Shall Jose bear
this cross alone, and others of us be free? No, we are all involved
and there should be a cross for every one. After 40 years, how about some
common sense? How about some compassion? Is that too much to ask? Let
him alone.
[i] Names (other than mine)
are changed to protect the guilty. Based on true stories, Jose is a composite
of several men I (and you) know. Don’t go looking for him.
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