All wrecking ball and no nuance

A town six miles down the road from where I grew up fronted the New York Times today. The story is about a “local pillar” who is now in custody because he arrived in the country illegally more than 20 years ago. That town went about 70–30 Trump in the election.

As I said just yesterday, some people who are here illegally should be deported, particularly those who pose a threat to security and safety. I think we should strengthen border security where appropriate (but not through nonsense like walls). I don’t support open borders (so don’t start your rebuttal there, please), but I do think we need to encourage more immigrants from all over the world, not fewer, for both humanitarian and economic reasons.

I don’t agree with people who want to deport everyone who is undocumented — people brought here as children should be protected from deportation and have an opportunity to become citizens, for example.

To those who voted for Trump and now, like many featured in this story, see that it’s not so black and white, allow me a minute to say:

• If you like your immigrant friends and neighbors, start assuming that they’re the rule rather than the exception. Don’t vote for people who promise to ruin your friends’ and neighbors’ lives unless you want your friends’ and neighbors’ lives ruined.
• Please hustle past “gee, maybe it’s complicated” to action as quickly as possible. We’re burning daylight. Trump’s moves are all wrecking ball and no nuance. They are built to take apart our government. I know many of you hate that government, but I remain very optimistic that its bones are good.
• Trump’s policies will continue to have these sorts of consequences — for minorities and gay folks and the poor and the press and protesters and the sick and those who work hard and play by the rules. He’s only going to get bolder unless you shout. If you don’t like an action he’s taking, call your member of Congress. Start saying so out loud in public, despite the fact that you might get some side eye. Plenty of people agree with you. Even if it’s just 30 percent in Franklin County, Illinois, that’s a lot.

The world is full of kind hearts and clear eyes. We can do a lot of good together.