What is the classic excuse among Trump supporters towards the issue of immigration? “They shouldn’t have broke the law and came over here in the first place!” This equates legality with morality, not only a grave mistake but historically a source of great evil. I hold firm to my convictions that laws are valid only insofar as they are grounded in justice, and a commitment to justice carries with it an obligation to disobey unjust laws.

Thus to say, “They broke the law!” is not a moral justification for punishing them if the law was unjust in the first place. In fact this is not only not a moral justification, it is immoral in and of itself! Morality does not, nor has it ever been equal to legality. As Thomas Jefferson said, “If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so.” Authoritarianism depends on ‘law & order’ above morality. It recognizes no morality above the law. This must be combatted with the utmost vigor!