If it is Harm We Fear, Let in Those Certified to do Us no Harm

   It was a make-believe world for Walter Craugman that day he stepped to the border. On this day, the rules against him were waived. He would be free to enter America simply with his word as his bond:
   That he would do no harm to this country he was entering.
   "Freedom to enter another country is not deemed a right," said the judge as he walked to the fence line and swung open the gate. "We are going to waive that rule for you. We are going to give you the right to live here. But, you need to consider on why freedom to enter is not considered a right. It is because of the harm we fear. If we fear the immigrant will harm us, of course we are not going to let him in.
  "So, as an experiment this day, we are going to let you in simply if you will swear to do us no harm. If you will sign this piece of paper, certifying that you will not harm us, you can come on in."
  Craugman stepped through the gate, profusely thanking the judge, promising that he would not let him down. He walked a number of steps into his new country, then paused, and looked back at the judge. "Your honor, would it be so wrong to treat every immigrant this way. Only, instead of the immigrant certifying he would do no wrong, what if you made a few phone calls back to the native lands, and you did the certifying -- you determined they would not harm the new nation?"
   The judge weighed Craugman's words. "For what it is worth, Mr. Craugman, I believe you are right. Thousands of immigrants have approached my desk. So often, I've looked at them in their tattered clothes, searched into their longing eyes, and wondered how it is that such humble people are viewed as a threat to our nation. I see no harm in their coming."
   The judge paused, casting his eyes to the ground as if in shame. "When the poor of other nations are considered the greatest threat to a country's security -- when we would construct walls to keep them out -- we know not the devils of this world.
   "A simple check we should make each time an immigrant comes. Let us both do the certifying. Let us make a few phone calls, ensuring that you are safe, and let you sign a statement that you will be safe, that you will do no harm."