Most analysts would agree that if all the undocumented immigrants in California were deported in one day, our state would experience a severe economic downturn. This does not even consider the many cultural and spiritual gifts these immigrants bring to our state and nation.

It appears fashionable these days, and almost politically correct, to blame hard-working immigrants, especially those from Mexico and Central America, for the social and economic ills of our state and nation.

We should embrace our immigrant roots and recognize that newcomers to our land are not part of the problem, they are part of the solution.

Immigration should be enforced in a proportional and humane manner.

A lot of victims, for example, have become addicted to alcohol and drugs. It seems to me that the church's healing ministry is going to be enhanced through this in much broader strokes. That's good, it's all positive.

Any society, any nation, is judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members - the last, the least, the littlest.

By and large the United States has been able to resist the temptation to close its doors to the world.