As I’ve discussed before, after Donald Trump was elected president, he promised that he would work to deport illegal immigrants, saying the focus of his administration’s efforts in this regard would be those here illegally who were committing crimes, especially violent crimes, and that he would not break up families.

Trump said, “What we are going to do is get the people that are criminal and have criminal records, gang members, drug dealers, where a lot of these people, probably 2 million, it could be even 3 million, we are getting them out of our country or we are going to incarcerate.” According to the article on the “Politico” website linked below, “Only then, Trump said, will he figure out a plan to deal with the ‘terrific people’ who are in the U. S. illegally but have otherwise clean criminal histories.”

He has reneged on that promise. Again.

In the effort to get to the bottom of a tax evasion scheme by the owners of a meat packing business in Bean Town, TN, agents from ICE, the IRS, Homeland Security, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol raided the business. The raid revealed the presence of 97 immigrants in the country illegally. While eleven of these were detained for criminal charges, 86 were arrested for being in the country illegally.

Yes, these immigrants were here illegally. But, it is impossible to deport every person here illegally, and it is immoral to deport them to countries they’ve not been to for years, where they do not speak the language, where they know no one, and where they may be at risk of prison or physical harm. I have no objection to deporting people here who are committing crimes, especially violent crimes (and, yes, participation in the drug trade is a violent crime). But, there must be another way to address the problem of those millions here who are only interested in working hard to made a way for their families.

The raid in Bean Town has caused a great deal of hardship for the families effected, especially those who’ve lost their bread winner. Assistance is being organized by St. Patrick Catholic Church. Various items are needed. If you are able to help, you can contact the Displaced Family Assistance Fund at Catholic Charities.

Bishop Richard Stika of the Diocese of Knoxville has issued a statement on the raid and a word of thanks to those assisting the families devastated by the raid.

Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all.