What do you want for Christmas?
There are more than 4.5 million children in the United States, all U.S. citizens, who simply want to be with their parents.
But they are fearful because at least one of their parents is undocumented.
A young girl named Jacqueline wrote a letter to President Obama asking him to stop deportations.
"Every year for Christmas I wish for a toy or clothes, but 2011 is not the same. I would really like your heart and patience to not deport my family or as a matter of fact any family," she wrote.
Their letters are part of a campaign by We Belong Together, a coalition of organizations pushing for immigration reform.
Earlier this month, they delivered thousands of letters from children of immigrants to members of Congress.
I was moved by a slideshow of some of the letters.
"Stop (breaking) hearts of people that cannot celebrate Christmas with their families," wrote Diego, age 9.
Another girl named Lesly wrote, "Please don't deport people because this Christmas I want to spend time with my family."
Spending time with family is an essential part of the holidays. But there are children who worry they will be separated from their parents.
If their parents are deported, their U.S. citizen children will likely will go back to the home country with them. Their opportunities for an education and the American Dream could be lost forever.
Some of these children also could wind up in foster care. A recent study by the Applied Research Center found that 5,000 children in the United States are in foster care because their parents have been detained or deported by immigration.
Should we punish the children because of the actions of their parents?
No.
Immigration reform needs to include solutions for mixed-status families with family members who are undocumented and others who U.S. citizens. Families with long-term roots in the United States should be given an opportunity to stay.
Santa Claus can't grant children that wish this Christmas. But the U.S. Congress and President Obama should work harder in 2012 to make that happen.
Filed under: Christmas, immigration, politics
Tags: Christmas, immigration, letters, politcs, President Obama, Santa Claus, We Belong Together
