What 'Their not Sending Their Best' has Wrought

   A record 14,000 migrant children are being held in detention centers. Why so many? Because we do not want catch-and-release;  We do not want immigrants to be released while they await hearings, because we fear they might escape and not return for those hearings. So, to spare ourselves their escape, we detain them. And, is there another reason so many migrant children are being held in detention centers? Yes; We do not believe in chain migration, which is the practice of letting migrants join extended family members. So, hoping to reject and deport them, we detain them, rather than letting them reunite with their families.
   Think back on the words of then-candidate Donald Trump when he was just announcing his candidacy. "When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best."
   What has come out of those words? With the election of Trump, came exerted efforts to cut back on immigration, not the least of which were trying to end catch-and-release and chain migration.
    And, what is the end result, or one of them? No less than 14,000 children being institutionalized in detention centers. No less than 14,000 children being separated from the natural and nurturing bonds of their families. Consider on these children. And, consider on those words, now years old, from candidate Trump. "They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing  those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists."
    And, this is where we're at: Thousands of children are being separated from the natural and nurturing bonds of family in the name of policies we fear have been allowing criminals into our country.
    Who, in the end, has it ended up we are afraid of? The children?
    And, what have we done with them, these children? Sent them to what amounts to a soft jail? For their quarters are closely guarded and they are not allowed out.
     I think we should reflect anew on who we are considering our criminals, on who we are jailing. We started off wanting to keep out the rapists and others who cause problems. But, did we quite visualize who we would end up punishing?