FOR ABBOTT AND HIS FELLOW TEXAS, NO ROOM AT THE INN

By Juan Montoya
Now that Texas Governor Greg Abbott surreptitiously signed into law the prohibition of so-called "sanctuary cities" that requires police to ask the legal status of everyone they stop, even for minor violations, we see the real face of this sanctimonious politician.

Remember that it was Abbott who came down to Brownsville during the so-called "Day of Prayer" to ask the Almighty for guidance in governing this great state. In his prayer he asked for direction fro God and asked everyone to seek His guidance.

Wire service reports say the new law lets police ask during routine stops whether someone is in the U.S. legally and threatens sheriffs with jail if they don't cooperate with federal immigration agents.

They report that the Texas law has been blasted by opponents as the nation's toughest on immigrants since Arizona's crackdown in 2010, disparagingly known as the "papers, please" provision. They are now vowing a court challenge in Texas similar to what unfolded in Arizona.

Every major police chief in Texas, which includes some of the largest cities in the U.S., opposed the measure that allows police to inquire about the immigration status of anyone they detain, a situation that can range from arrest for a crime to being stopped for a traffic violation.

It also requires police chiefs and sheriffs – under the threat of jail and removal of office – to comply with federal requests to hold criminal suspects for possible deportation. Republicans have a strong majority in the Legislature and shoved aside Democratic objections, even as President Donald Trump's efforts to withhold federal funding for sanctuary cities have hit roadblocks in federal courts.

We wonder if Abbott is well read in the teachings of the Scriptures.

In fact, all divine religions order welcoming and showing hospitality to strangers and prohibit mistreating or oppressing them. According to such religions, doing good to the strangers is considered an act of righteousness.

The Old Testament commands justice and love for the strangers, including giving them food and clothing. We read the following verse: “He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.” (Deuteronomy 10:18)

Again, the Old Testament orders good treatment and love for strangers. Moreover, it forbids wronging, mistreating and oppressing the strangers. We read the following verses:

“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:33-34)

Under Islam, a stranger is referred to as “Ibn Al-Sabil” (wayfarer) who is paid a lot of attention by Islam. The Qur’an considers that it is an act of righteousness to give money to a wayfarer.

Read the following verse:

Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah , the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler…(Al-Baqarah 2:177)

The Qur’an orders doing good to wayfarers. Read the following verse:

Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler…(An-Nisaa 4:36)

Today I am observing the birthday of a dearly departed brother who was murdered in Houston by his fellow workers who happened to be undocumented workers and who fled to Mexico after they killed him. I should hate them, but I do not. If you believe in a God, then you also believe in divine justice and that they will get their just due in time. Perhaps they have already have. Some things were just meant to be. 

It could have easily been anyone else. After all, it was in Houston. Now, under the justification that we are a law-abiding state, Abbott's new law will break up families, deport the breadwinner, create dysfunctional families and leave children and adolescents without guidance if someone runs a stop sign.

To close your door to all people just because they have arrived here after your people did is chintzy, mean-spirited and not the answer.

The newcomers – Europeans got here just a little over 500 years – practiced genocide on the Native American and established boundaries on this continent for their convenience. They should be thankful Native Americans did not have a immigration department.

Happy birthday, bro.