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Should we punish children for the misbehavior of their parents?

Should we punish children for the misbehavior of their parents? Should we deprive children of assistance after a disaster just because their parents perhaps violated some current laws?

It seems this question should not even be asked. It seems there is no room for such a thought in the context of an advanced society in the 21st century. Who would deny help for a child after a tornado, a fire, or a flood, or any other disaster, just because his or her parents may lack the proper papers?

However, that’s precisely what Congressman Steve King, R-Iowa, is proposing. In a recent conversation with several media outlets in Des Moines, King announced that “in two or three week” he will introduce a bill to eliminate a current law that allows providing assistance to minors after a disaster, even of the parents of that child are undocumented immigrants.

According to law, if a disaster occurs, and if a minor qualifies for aid and relief, the parents of that minor can complete the needed paperwork and ask for the relief, even if they do not qualify because they are illegally in the country.

According to Congressman King, that law, enacted in 2007, acts as a magnet to attract undocumented immigrants who want their children to be born in the United States.

Personally, I don’t know of any immigrant, with or without papers, who comes to the United States hoping that his or her child will one day, before they are 18, be in an earthquake or a terrorist attack, so thanks to that minor all the family will receive help.

Obviously, nobody plans to be part of a natural disaster. In addition, several studies demonstrated that very seldom undocumented immigrants will ask for public help. However, the issue is not the legal situation of the parents, but the injustice of thinking in advance about punishing children for the wrong deeds of their parents.

For example, let’s suppose there is a man driving a car. His young child is on the back seat. Let’s assume there is an accident and both father and son need medical attention. And let’s assume the father doesn’t have a valid driver’s license.

Should we deny medical attention to the child because the father lacks the proper documentation? Should the innocent child be punished by the misbehavior of his father?

It should be obvious I am in favor of respecting the laws and of personal and national security and safety. But I can’t be in favor of a law that will force me to choose between compassion and legality.

Perhaps King’s bill will never be approved. That’s not important. The point is a bill to potentially punish children for the wrongdoings of their parents will be soon introduced by a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Immigration of the House of Representatives.

If we begin to punish some children because we don’t like their parents, we are at risk of expanding indefinitely the list of unwanted and unwelcome parents.

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