Monday’s Supreme Court decision, allowing racial profiling to arrest people here illegally, is a major backwards step for our nation.  It was made by justices, who will never have to bear the brunt of it.  Instead, the working poor, people with Spanish accents, or the wrong color skin, will be harassed and detained  unjustifiably.

Safe in their Washington homes, no guns will be pointed at Justices’ heads.  Windows of their vehicles will not be smashed, nor will they be pulled out of a car and  thrown on the ground . . . then detained, until they can prove their citizenship. The court, trying to avoid a confrontation with President Trump, chose others to  suffer for their cowardliness.

The decision in itself is appalling.  Stories are abundant of people wrongly detained because of race, accent, or color of their skin. Then imprisoned,  while family members are left scrambling to, find birth certificates, passports or some means of identification, ICE deems acceptable.

ICE`s lawlessness is a stain on our country.   Along with citizens,  immigrants here legally are also caught up in raids.  Work permits are ignored.  Green cards dismissed.  Those who think they are safe because they are following the law,  discover they aren’t.  Yesterday’s laws no longer apply.  Lawyers are limited, detainees are dispersed, making it difficult to prove their case.

We are living in a shameful time, of a nation forgetting its values, its foundation and its laws.

We are not the first to forget our way..  The prophet Jeremiah spoke against the injustices in Israel.  He too, was mystified why a people blessed by God,  lost their grounding.

“They do not seek justice.
They do not promote the case of the fatherless;
they do not defend the just cause of the poor.” Jeremiah 5:28

Prophetic words continue to speak, to guide us, chastise us as needed, and redirect our actions. They remind us that every person is made in the image of God.   Each is a beloved  child of God, and deserving of our love and respect.