A Mexican-raised activist posted an open letter directed to Central Americans who are seeking to illegally immigrate to the United States, and her message has nothing to do with compassion, violence in their homeland or the need for open borders. Instead, it’s about our nation’s guiding principle — the rule of law.
Paty Newman was born in Los Angeles, but six months later, her parents took her to be raised in Mexico. She remained there for the next 20 years before returning to the United States, according to the Independent Journal Review.
In response the mounting crisis at our border, she referred to a principle that sets America apart from all other countries — that we are, according to John Adams, “a nation of laws, not of men.”
“It is the Rule of Law that has made our country exceptional,” she began. “The same Rule of Law will protect you if you want to become an American or a legal resident.”
She went on to say that if America is to remain exceptional among the family of nations, it has to adhere to that principle. Her letter continued:
The law doesn’t apply evenly in your country of origin; the consequence of lawlessness is what made you run away. But now you are asking us to ignore our own laws and make exceptions that are favorable to you. Be careful what you ask for, you have personally lived the consequences of “exceptions” to the Rule of Law.
We are trying to make our corrupt government accountable. We feel the obligation to teach you how to make your own governments accountable! We welcome all of those that are yearning to be free, we ask you to respect our laws. Come here legally and in an orderly manner.
Our politicians are using you; you’ve been used and abused by yours already! Wake up! Our protest is against our own government, it is not directed at you as a human being. Our politicians, both Republicans and Democrats, are taking advantage of you to serve their own interests. I hope you recognize that you are being lied to by both your government and ours. We don’t have jobs available here, and our National Debt is 17 Trillion dollars!
It is time to stop being fooled, you must demand your governments follow the law and faithfully apply it, we as Americans are trying to do the same. In the end, if we both do our civic duty, we will all achieve victory against tyranny.
Newman’s letter has been published both here as well as in the Central American countries of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.
Sometimes it takes someone who was raised elsewhere to bring everything into its proper perspective.
