September 30, 2009

Jesus the refugee and immigration law

By Ann Allott, Esq.

I am a female Catholic lawyer who prays to use my immigration law skills every day to serve those not given the universal right to work in just and favorable conditions in the United States.  Our nation has educated millions of undocumented children but thrown them away by not allowing them to work. Most of them fled with their families from desperate economic conditions and would be unable to survive if they returned to countries they never knew. 

My most heartbreaking case involved a young man who was the son of an illiterate mother who brought him to the United States when he was 4 years old.  He graduated from high school as a straight-A student.  Against all odds, he was selected for West Point—but the invitation was rescinded when it was learned that he was undocumented. Today, this young man who wanted to serve America and was capable of becoming a strong leader is now refinishing cars in his backyard in a small, prairie town. 

Jesus’ life began as a refugee to Africa when he and his family fled to Egypt to escape Herod.  To welcome the sojourner is to welcome Jesus himself. His example gives me faith and courage to help change our broken system with immigration reform that acknowledges the universal human right to work and be treated fairly.

Ann Allott, Esq., of Allott Immigration Law Firm in Centennial, is on the Catholic Lawyers Guild board of directors and is a past president of the guild.