What would Jesus say about immigration reform?

For my fellow Republican friends, who get their shorts in a bunch over immigration reform, I'd like to remind them of the parable of the Good Samaritan. A man from Jerusalem was beaten, robbed, and left on the side of the road. A priest and a Levite passed by but did not help him, thinking it was not their problem. A Samaritan, however, a man from a different region and culture, helped the man, treated his wounds, and paid for his care.

Jesus then asked who was the best neighbor to the man. Obviously, it was the one who went out of his way to help - at personal cost with no thought of return or payback. Jesus then said, "Go and do likewise."

When we see the overwhelming violence and poverty in Mexico, and yet choose to pass by, and pretend their suffering is none of our concern, and refuse to welcome them to our country - a country in which most of us are not native to ourselves - we defy the lesson of Christ.

Do we continue to place the blame for our problems on illegals, and characterize them as evil or selfish consumers of our resources, or will we follow Christ's example? Will we allow our own hate and prejudice to define our actions, or will we show mercy and forgiveness as God has shown us?