Thank you for bringing forth a topic that deserves needed attention. So many people are really unaware of all the hurdles and obstacles in achieving citizenship in the US. As a native of this country, I am only partially aware of what all it takes to become “legal”. It is true that there are so many negative words and connotations that people have about those undocumented. I personally know some families that are struggling to make things legal and have been spending countless hours, LOTS of money, and much work to gain this status. And so many times the struggles impact the families in other ways not recognized. Like the children, who are native born here, that live in fear that their father will be taken from them and quite possibly never to return. The heartbreak and fear is very real, and the anxiety is always a strong undercurrent to daily lives. These individuals and families have more to think about that just basic needs. The misconceptions and negativity do need to be dispelled. The US is a country founded on freedom from oppression, which unfortunately we seem to do to our own far too much.

Yes! I agree that ethics should be taught soon and often while in higher education. My program (Counselor Education) does a great job of weaving ethics throughout our courses because of the nature of our work. It is surprising that each department does not have larger discussions of their own regarding ethical dilemmas and how to navigate should these issues arise. Thank you for this post and bringing this more into the spotlight. It is something that would be a change for good in higher ed!