It hasn’t even been a month since Trump was inaugurated for a second term, and so many things feel uncertain. I don’t know why I felt compelled to write something about immigration, of all the topics I could have chosen, but here I am, feeling compelled and writing, still mostly for myself.

I am firmly convinced, that no matter what people say, that the vast majority of anti-immigrant sentiment is rooted in racism. I don’t want to feel that way, but it’s very difficult for me to ignore it. When people talk about immigrants changing the fabric of the country, all I hear is a desire to keep things white. Oddly, this is sometimes from people who aren’t white, or who wouldn’t have been considered white in another time.

I have family members (family by marriage, but still family) who are staunchly anti-immigrant, but are first or second generation Americans themselves. The common defense is that they aren’t anti-immigrant, they’re just anti-illegal-immigrant, but that doesn’t hold up to much scrutiny. First, because at least one of the ancestors of theirs who came here arrived here illegally, even by the standards of that day. Any laws prohibiting people from entering without any documentation at all weren’t enforced often, but people like this guy still clearly broke laws to get here. But somehow, they justify that as different. I’m not sure how. Second, because folks like them routinely complained about Biden’s open border policy. Setting aside that there wasn’t an open border policy under Biden, ever, if there had been, that would have made all the immigrants entering legal. If the policy is to let them all in, then they are just following the policy and for somebody who is genuinely anti-illegal-immigration, but not anti-legal-immigration, there shouldn’t be a problem with the immigrants.

The other thing that really bothers me about the discussion is that it seems (and I’m willing to change my view on this if the facts don’t support it) that the Christian Nationalist types are some of the most vocal opposers to immigration. That eats me up because I can’t find a single thing in the Bible, especially the New Testament, that would make somebody anti-immigrant. The Catholic Church has a pretty firm view on this. They accept that countries much defend their borders, but they seem to accept that almost begrudgingly, and they strongly emphasize the need for humane treatment of migrants. It’s one of so many examples of me wanting Christians to be better at following their own religion.

As for the Trump administration and the moves over the last few weeks, it’s hard to not see it as cruelty. They rescinded policies that prevented immigration agents from operating in places like churches, schools, and hospitals. These are important policies (in my opinion) for a few reasons. First, because arresting people for nothing other than violating immigration policy is disruptive to anybody nearby. I don’t want that kind of disruption in schools, hospitals, theaters, churches. Of course, if somebody is being disruptive in those places, they can be removed, and if they are also here illegally, then immigration can get involved if that’s the policy, but let’s not bother the others in those places just to round up immigrants. There are plenty of other places to do that. Second, because I firmly believe that no human being should have to avoid essential human services for fear of deportation. That probably applies more to hospitals and schools in my mind than it does churches and theaters. Third, I firmly believe in due process, and the actions of the administration don’t feel respectful of that. Due process does not involve moving people to Guantanamo. I didn’t like that when we did it to terrorists, who were genuine threats to the country, but I really don’t like it when we do it to people who pose no real risk to the rest of us, except maybe spoiling us with good food and culture that we’ll miss when they’re gone.

And, more than anything, it all makes me feel like we lost out so badly when we elected Trump the first time. We were promised a taco truck on every corner if Hillary won, and I love tacos.