Guest commentary: Let's remember mercy when dealing with immigrants

The New York Times on May 29 had an article headlined: "Somalis Brave a Sea of Perils for $50-a-Month Jobs Abroad."

The article featured a picture of a thin, frail-looking but beautiful 17-year-old girl in her native garb. It described the dangers she and other desperate people faced in escaping the horrible conditions of Somalia with the help of unfortunately, unscrupulous, despicable smugglers — just to find a little more hope in Yemen.

Throughout the centuries brave people had been motivated enough to overcome fear to find better places for themselves and their families, not with the intent to become burdens on their new societies, but to seek better opportunities to live and work with dignity. Many may have been desperate enough to ignore the obstacles of existing laws to escape the misery, injustice or death they faced where they resided.

I am a first-generation American citizen.

My parents came here legally from Europe. However, family legend describes my mother's hair-raising adventure when at the tender age of 12 she had to leave her home in Poland because of difficult, dangerous conditions. She and her older cousin escort faced the danger of being shot by German soldiers because the trip to pass through Germany was not legal.

They eventually made it to her oldest brother's home in England.

He had made the same trip years before and was now established enough to help his youngest sister. She never saw her own mother again.

While her life was safer and more secure there as she toiled as a seamstress and assimilated into that society, she constantly felt the sadness of leaving her roots. Eventually, she emigrated to the U.S. as the wife of a dashing young World War I soldier who was part of the Jewish Brigade of the British army.

He would eventually become my father.

Our parents' hardships, sacrifices, bravery and values helped me and my sisters live in the greatest country in the world because of our system of government, our freedoms and the numerous available opportunities. We were encouraged to become educated, to have a strong value system, to work diligently, and to become productive members of our community.

Finally, as a retiree who has enjoyed living in Collier County about 10 years, I was grateful for the opportunity which was available to me a few years ago to work as an adult school teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). In some classes there were students originating from over 20 countries and from many continents. Each worked or struggled by day and came to learn English at night, no matter how fatigued he or she was.

It was that important to all of them.

They were beautiful people from all walks of life from the humblest work to the most sophisticated professions.

Each was trying to make a better life for himself/herself. The teachers and staff were dedicated to providing the education they needed. There was a wonderful atmosphere of mutual respect. I remarked to them that if the United Nations members could operate as well as we in the night school did, there would truly be "Peace on Earth."

With this kind of background, while I too would like our borders to be more secure, I know it would be the ultimate unnecessary cruelty to deport productive otherwise honest people, no matter how they had come to this country. While I do support a guest worker program and the right and duty to protect our country from true criminals, contagious folks, and terrorists, we ought not forget to be merciful.