The television and printed images of the desperate plight of the refugees fleeing violence in the Middle East are horrific, and they deserve assistance from Europe and the United States. I fully support aid to the countries most involved: Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Greece and Italy.
It is imperative that a peaceful solution be found for Syria itself. That will take strong diplomatic action on the part of the U.S., Europe and Russia, but the issue must be resolved.
My biggest concern is for a resolution to the immigration problems inside our own country caused by the long-term problems in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and, to some extent, Mexico. We have many undocumented immigrants living in the United States. They should receive amnesty and a path to citizenship. We need to recognize these workers for their true value as people, parents, youths with hopes and aspirations, and as a significant and needed part of our labor force. Notwithstanding the comments of people like Donald Trump and other Republican candidates, the vast majority of undocumented people here are great people, good neighbors and productive workers.
On a lesser scale, migration from Central America to the U.S. is similar to migration from the Middle East to Europe and especially the nations listed above.
Let’s help the refugees in the Middle East, let’s help the refugees here in the U.S. and at the same time seriously address the corruption, violence and struggling economies in Central America and Mexico. Only when there is peace and progress in the regions mentioned above will there be a positive resolution to the global migration problems.
Ray Finney
Pagosa Springs
