If You are not here Legally, what Privileges should You have?

It is easy to suggest everyone -- regardless of whether born here or abroad, and regardless whether they come "illegally" -- should be allowed access to the justice of the courts.

A harder question is to take the phrase, "Freedom panders not to its own," and wonder if this means we should allow them access to our schools and our hospitals and our social programs.

If you aren't here legally, what privileges should you have?

I would say, if you do divide the questions -- if you do disregard the notion that they shouldn't have to ask for permission to be here -- then sometimes they are wrong. 

Do not fault them for accessing our emergency medical services, for you should not deprive anyone the right to live. But, elective care perhaps makes them thieves.

Their using our social net is sometimes wrong. I say sometimes, because sometimes they are paying into the tax system. Even then, though, if they are getting care by deceit, there is a wrongness in that. And, I say sometimes, because if they are in need of food just to survive, of course you give it to them -- without begrudging them. You don't starve another person.  You feed them without holding contempt for them. But, if the social program goes beyond just giving them sustenance, then perhaps consider them wrongful users.

But, through all of this, I cannot but feel that the wrongfulness of keeping them out does have something to do with all of this. You cannot completely un-attach the questions. If they belong here even without invite, then you cannot really say, Let's just take the ones who come illegally and ask ourselves if they are thieves. Belonging is belonging. Yes, if I am wrong in whether the Constitution and such says they should stay, then they are thieves.

But, if I am right -- if the Constitution and such does grant them their stay -- then it is not they who are thieves, but us.