We Must Be Compassionate with Illegal Immigrants Even When There are Consequences – an Editorial

Let’s Be Compassionate with Illegal Immigrants, Even Though They Cannot Stay, Even Though There are Consequences!

Primary Category: Editorial and Commentary

Intended Audience: General Public / Others

Author:
•  Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth – Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

Illegal immigration is a complex issue, where many individuals were misled by false promises and bad policies, but while we must acknowledge their hardship, enforcing immigration laws remains essential to maintaining national security and order. True compassion lies in treating deported individuals humanely while also addressing the root causes of illegal immigration and holding those responsible for the crisis accountable.

Let’s Be Compassionate with Illegal Immigrants, Even Though They Cannot Stay, Even Though There are Consequences!

An Editorial by Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. DFin MCPO MAnth, Managing Director (Volunteer) of the SCARS Institute

Let’s call it what it is. The illegal immigration problem now being faced was a scam perpetrated by the political class under the Biden/Harris presidency on millions of good people seeking a better life and on the American people.

The issue of illegal immigration is complex, emotional, and deeply impactful to both those who enter the country unlawfully and the citizens who bear the consequences of unregulated migration. We fully acknowledge that many of the illegal immigrants were and are hardened criminals that have terrorized the residents of the United States and other immigrants, but not all of them were. We need to share compassion for those who were caught up in the scam.

While laws must be enforced and order maintained, we must also acknowledge the human suffering involved. Many of those who have crossed into the United States illegally were lured by false promises (a SCAM,) misled by those who profit from chaos such as the Biden/ Harris administration elite, corrupt money laundering NGOs, and the criminal ‘Coyotes,’ human traffickers, cartels, or worse.

We must understand that many of these human beings were driven by desperation. Their stories are not all the same, and not all who arrived did so with ill intent, even though they broke laws in the process. That does not mean we forgive them and allow them to remain, but we can at least understand it.

At its core, the surge of illegal immigration has been fueled by a massive deception—a scam that gave false hope to countless people seeking a better life. Whether intentionally or through misguided policies, the Biden-Harris administration, alongside certain non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and criminal networks, promoted the illusion that the borders were open and that entry into the United States would be consequence-free. This deception has left millions in limbo, facing a harsh reality that differs from what they were promised.

Acknowledging that these individuals were misled does not mean excusing unlawful entry.

The fact remains that they broke immigration laws, and in any nation governed by the rule of law, violations come with consequences. Deportation is not an act of cruelty but a necessary enforcement of national sovereignty and security. Without enforcement, laws become meaningless, and the stability of a nation is undermined. While some would argue that mass amnesty or non-enforcement is the compassionate route, it ultimately incentivizes further illegal immigration, creating even more suffering in the long run. Additionally, it overburdens the country’s resources and dramatically impacts the job market for citizens.

It is possible to enforce the law while still treating individuals with dignity and respect.

Of course, we are not talking about those that engaged in criminal behavior or violence once they entered the United States.

We must separate the political failures that led to this crisis from the individuals who now find themselves entangled in it. Many illegal immigrants were not aware of the full consequences of their actions, nor did they fully understand the legal process they were violating. Others were manipulated by smugglers and criminals who profited from their desperation. Some were fleeing true hardship, though seeking asylum through illegal entry is not a solution. They must now return and have lost any opportunity to seek legal processes.

Compassion does not mean open borders or ignoring the rule of law.

Rather, it means ensuring that those who are deported are treated humanely, that due process is followed, and that efforts are made to discourage others from following the same misguided path. It also means holding accountable those who created this crisis—both the politicians who enabled it and the organizations that facilitated it. True compassion would be working toward policies that prevent people from being exploited in the first place rather than perpetuating a cycle of deception and disappointment.

It is also an opportunity to hold their native governments accountable for allowing their people to migrate as they did, and hopefully hold them responsible for caring for them when they return.

In the end, we must acknowledge that the United States is a nation of laws, and those laws must be enforced for the good of all. But we can also recognize that behind the politics and policy debates are real human lives—people who were misled, who made poor choices, and who must now face the consequences. Let us approach this crisis with both firmness and humanity, ensuring that compassion and lawfulness are not seen as opposites, but as principles that can and should coexist.

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A Note to Our Readers: Understanding Without Blame

At the SCARS Institute, our work is dedicated to you, the survivor. We explore the complex journey of scam victimization to help you make sense of what happened. Our purpose is to transform confusion into clarity, shame into self-compassion, and fear into strength. We do this by examining the science behind these crimes and the very human responses they trigger.

We know that reading about the psychology of a scam, victimization, and recovery can sometimes feel overwhelming or even uncomfortable. Please know, this is never about blame. It is about understanding. Scam victims are never, ever at fault. Criminals are the sole architects of these deceptions. Our goal is to illuminate the expertly crafted tactics used against you and explain the natural, biological processes that made the scam feel so real, the processes of the mind and body, and how you can recover. We want you to see that your reactions were not weaknesses, but signs of your humanity.

By sharing this knowledge, we hope to help you piece together your story and journey ahead with kindness and self-compassion. We want to replace the echo of shame with the profound realizations of knowledge. This understanding is a powerful step toward healing and rebuilding a future where you feel safe and secure.

For further support and educational resources, please visit ScamVictimsSupport.org, ScamPsychology.org, RomanceScamsNOW.com, and other SCARS Institute websites. o join our free, safe, and confidential survivors’ community, visit SCARScommunity.org. You are not alone on this path.