WAPO Op-Ed: Decriminalizing the border is not in anyone's interest

[liskddksil]

The Democratic debates last week revealed many things, but few revelations told us as much about the state of the party’s thinking than a brief back-and-forth between the two Texans in the race: Julián Castro and Beto O’Rourke.

Early on in the first debate, Castro, the former housing and urban development secretary, challenged “every single candidate on this stage to support the repeal of Section 1325.” That section of the federal criminal code makes “improper entry” — attempting to cross into the United States in between established entry stations or in order to avoid inspection — a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by a fine and/or up to six months in jail.

Castro pushed O’Rourke, a former congressman, to support repeal and instead make unlawful entry a civil violation, mostly to stop the government’s controversial separation of families. But O’Rourke declined, suggesting that it would be unwise to remove all criminal disincentives to illegal entry. On the second night of the debate, under questioning from a moderator, eight out of 10 candidates raised their hands to support repeal.

Repeal is an understandable reaction to President Trump and is quickly becoming party boilerplate. But that path is not a good one for the party or the country.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/decriminalizing-the-border-is-not-in-anyones-interest/2019/07/01/27292360-9c36-11e9-85d6-5211733f92c7_story.html?utm_term=.dc385a997c94

[Clash City Rocker]

1. Yeah, that sounds like red meat for the MAGA crowd

Most of them seem to think that every Democrat supports open borders, which is clearly not the case.

[liskddksil]

2. Which is why we can't fall into the trap that Julian Castro and others tried to lay on Wednesday nt

[dalton99a]

13. No shit. That was a dumb move.

Utterly self-serving of Castro, and not very well thought out.

[UniteFightBack]

18. Well...you better not look down thread. nt

[ChiTownDenny]

10. +1

Illegal immigration is, um, illegal. That, clearly, is different from refuge status. But America has the right to establish who enters the counltry and under what circumstances. Now I support the decriminalization of illegal entry but illegal immigration is...illegal.

[UniteFightBack]

16. Exactly, Decriminalizing the border only benefits the Republicans. Didn't they all raise their

hand that they would decriminalize??? It's like we are proving the pukes point for them.

[berni_mccoy]

3. It needs to be a civil violation, not a criminal one

Throwing people in jail just for crossing the border is stupid. Make it a penalty and yes it can affect their application for residency or citizenship and even possible deportation. But having it illegal goes against many of the principles of this country.

[UniteFightBack]

17. While this is true, I'm not so sure I would make it a campaign issue. It fits right in that we are

for open borders.

[GulfCoast66]

4. I would love all of candidates together,

Remind the American People that had the Tea Party fucks not put the kibosh in the 2013 reform act it would not be an issue. Ok, leave out the ‘fucks’ part.

And also the only reason they were against it was to keep this wedge on the table. They have few enough things to run on as it is.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. That's not a house editorial from the Washington Post. It's an op-ed from Juliette Kayyem.

[SouthernProgressive]

6. It needs to be a civil offense, not a criminal one.

It's what should be done. All of our candidates should back it.

Anyone calling it an "open border" position is carrying water for the RW.

Her husband was the one who wrote the legal memo giving the legal foundation for bombing American citizens without due process.

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/24/opinion/a-thin-rationale-for-drone-killings.html

[Voltaire2]

7. We should run away and hide from every issue that *they* don't like.

Wonderful strategy. Maybe we should just run a unity platform with the GOP.

[Turin_C3PO]

14. I agree with your sentiment.

I wrote in another post that, although it’s fine we have never-Trump Republicans in our camp, we shouldn’t budge an inch for them in regards to our platform.

[essadaw]

8. For anyone who wants a detailed anaylsis and not just a soundbite

A DU poster, grantcart, who has very extensive experience working with migration and refugee organizations wrote a detailed analysis of this issue in a post a few days ago. And grantcart is not a Beto or Castro supporter but rather supports Pete on DU.

Here's the link: https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287170319

[ChiTownDenny]

11. +1

[dalton99a]

12. +1

[Celerity]

15. yes, that was one of the best posts I have read on here in months

[Claritie Pixie]

9. It needs to be changed from criminal charge so kids can't be taken from parents.

That's a separate thing from asylum though.

Asylum seekers need due process, not shut doors.