This is another in my series where I’m working out my thoughts through blogging.

There’s a recent brouhaha among the chattering classes surrounding the deporting of one of the Columbia ringleaders. Here’s a Freepress article on the current issue.

The thing about chattering class issues is that while they are often transitory and often non-issues after their fifteen minutes, they can spark questions about first principles. So, what does conversation does this current one spark?

First, the Constitution doesn’t grant rights. It acknowledges that we, as human beings, have innate natural rights.

Second, the Constitution is a contract by which the government of the United States is required to defend the rights of its citizens and others as the government and the citizenry agree.

The question becomes when does the government have an obligation to defend the rights of people who are not citizens?

I know this is a bad analogy, but it’s kind of like house guests.

People on visas are like folks you invite in for dinner or to do work in the house, maybe even stay a few days. You expect them to follow the rules of the house or GTFO.

Green card holders are more like when your SO moves in. This is a person you think is likely to become a permanent part of your household. You would expect them to have more say in how things run. They can say things that a guest cannot.