[AAACE-NLA] Moral principles

[David Rosen]

Kearney,

On May 4, 2007, you wrote:

> What moral principle demands that people should willfully break the  
> laws of the United States by skirting the procedures to admit them  
> to our country?

Here are two examples:

A parent, living in a brutal, totalitarian society speaks out against  
the government.  Her life, and the life of her family is, as a  
result, in danger.  There is no time to consider legal routes to  
emigration.  She grabs her children and escapes, landing in the U.S.  
without documentation.

Two foreign nationals who have studied in the U.S., have returned to  
their country.  It is five years later.  They have two children, one  
born in the U.S. , one born in their country. Their country is in  
civil war.  Their lives are in danger. Their child born in the U.S.  
can legally enter the U.S. as she is a U.S. citizen.Their other child  
cannot. They try to enter the U.S. legally but are told only their  
six-year old may have a visa.  Acting morally to preserve the lives  
of both their children they enter as three undocumented and one legal  
resident.

In both examples the moral principle is  parents' obligation to  
protect their children.


David J. Rosen
DJRosen at theworld.com