William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice
Abstract
Having written about Latinx issues for more than three decades, with a focus on immigration policy for at least the last two decades, I see no middle ground in this time of Trump. Those who relish hurt and hate, and those scholars who wrote the kindling for that bonfire, must be basking in the glow of their handiwork. Those of us who I claim are on the right side of history must search through the ashes for hope—the where, when, and how to nurture humanity on scorched ground. Counting myself among those searching for hope, I acknowledge the indulgence offered by this Symposium to reflect—more so to self-reflect—on where we stand. And on where I thought we’d be. And whether we can get there from here.
In this self-reflective Article, I sift through my various writings to identify and thread together the themes and theses of my multidecade work on immigration policy. As a set of principles, they offer both a vision of a borderland and a country of compassion, and a roadmap of how to reach that vision. At least when the journey seemed more realistic. I also take stock of the current moment of Trump policy—early in his second term, as informed by his first term of rhetoric and regulation. Finally, I offer suggestions on how to begin the journey to compassion. As well, and as informed both by the passage of time and events and by the acquisition of deeper knowledge, I critique my own work—less to make the journey quicker and more to make the journey more fulfilling and the destination more permanent.
This reflection, as with much of my writing on immigration, is from the 20,000-foot level—especially in mapping the policies that flow from a compassionate view of migrants and their migration. We are too far down the wrong policy road to worry about minor course corrections. Rather than specifying tinkers to reform the current immigration system, we need to imagine a complete reconstruction of the landscape of current immigration law. And a way to get there. As Maya Angelou wrote: “the need for change bulldozed a road down the center of my mind.”
This abstract has been taken from the author's introduction.
Repository Citation
Steven W. Bender, Getting There from Here: Reflecting on Compassionate Migration Policy, 32 Wm. & Mary J. Race, Gender, & Soc. Just. 87 (2025), https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmjowl/vol32/iss1/6Included in
Civil Rights and Discrimination Commons, Immigration Law Commons, Law and Politics Commons