Finding Common Ground with President Trump

I am sharing this with my representatives. I hope you'll consider sharing this or something similar that shows your views as well!


Dear Representative (or Senator) ___________,


I have been concerned with the way the Trump administration has handled various immigration matters. But in an effort to find common ground, I have found various statements by Donald Trump that I believe highlight important starting points that many Americans can agree on. Please consider working with others to make progress on these issues. Compromise can be painful, but it is better than extended periods of inaction that harms our country.

First, in December 2024, Donald Trump said on Meet the Press, “I will work with the Democrats on a plan. And if we can come up with a plan, but the Democrats have made it very, very difficult to do anything. Republicans are very open to the dreamers. The dreamers, we’re talking many years ago they were brought into this country. Many years ago. Some of them are no longer young people. And in many cases, they’ve become successful. They have great jobs. In some cases they have small businesses. Some cases they might have large businesses. And we’re going to have to do something with them.” When asked if he wants them to be able to stay, he said, “I do.” Can this be done now? It could be as simple as passing a law that states that people who came to the United State before age x have lawful status to live and work here and may apply for citizenship. I would be most happy with all who came before age 18, but would also be very happy with at least those who came before age 10 (which is the youngest age that Idaho juvenile law allows detention for, no matter how serious a violation of law was, and for immigrant children they were almost always just doing what adults told them to do and not doing any kind of willful law violating).

My second proposal for improving laws for immigrants relates to when, on October 22, 2016, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Donald Trump stated that we should build a wall and Mexico should pay for it. A few seconds later he said he had spoken with the president of Mexico, calling their president a wonderful person. So the intent was not to say that Mexico is bad and should suffer for something, but that Mexico or Mexicans should contribute to something they’re a part of. This history of benefits coming from showing good will to those of other countries goes back thousands of years. My younger brother loves to study ancient documents, and he showed me something from more than 2,000 years ago, in which helping to build a wall resulted in the benefits of citizenship: “the Syracusans helped the Antandrians to finish a portion of their wall, and in the garrison-duty made themselves most popular. For this reason the Syracusans now enjoy at Antandrus the privileges of benefactors and citizens.” See https://topostext.org/work/96. This positive tradition of respecting foreign-born individuals continued and is referenced in the Magna Carta in 1215: “All merchants may enter or leave England unharmed and without fear, and may stay or travel within it, by land or water, for purposes of trade, free from all illegal exactions, in accordance with ancient and lawful customs.” This time-proven and rights-respecting tradition is part of what inspired our Founding Fathers to create the kind of government we have. I think it would be wonderful for people, who have been here for a time already or who desire to come, to be able to contribute to building something (like a wall) that keeps bad things like drugs out and in exchange have the benefits of citizenship.

I realize that such specific suggestions may not be the best next steps. They are not the only steps that would make me happy, and I am sure you will know better what to start with. But waiting for the perfect solution is not working. There are people here who should be legalized, whose legalization would increase compliance with tax laws and other laws, and it should not matter who gets credit for the improvement of our laws. I believe Democrats and Republicans should work quickly to legalize many, if not all, of the people here. I hope there can be bipartisan and unity-promoting legislation. If not, Republicans can no longer use Democrats as an easy excuse for inaction; I believe Republicans could put something together themselves, and if it legalizes a large number of childhood arrivals then it would be surprising to see all Democrats oppose it. Maybe a fine for past non-compliance by some immigrants can satisfy those who feel a punishment is needed to move on. I will be grateful for any efforts my representatives make towards a better system.

To promote positive legal changes for immigrants, my wife and I designed a yard sign that says “We ❤️ Immigrants: and we support more accessible paths to citizenship.” I was concerned it might be divisive, but we have received no malicious comments, and several positive comments. One friend said she wouldn't tell us her thoughts on that topic, but made that comment very good-naturedly. Every other comment has been positive and multiple people have wanted to display the same sign of support. There is less antagonism than we thought. There is more unity than we realized. I believe efforts to improve laws for immigrants will be understood and appreciated by many Americans. Many politicians have talked vaguely and frequently about our broken immigration system. There has been a long wait for positive changes. Now is the right time to do the right thing with our immigration laws.

Do Something That Our Yesterminute Selves Would Be Fearful About Doing But That Our Faith-filled Selves Can Do Joyfully

Sometimes I doubt, like Thomas in the New Testament. Not willing to feel peace and excitement about something totally wonderful and exciting, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, until I’m totally sure. Or not willing to relax about a big event (giving a talk, having an important talk with somebody, social event, argument in court, etc.) until totally prepared (usually never, so not until the event is over). I’m happy I’m not called Doubting Rees, like how Thomas has sometimes been called Doubting Thomas. Because there is also faith-filled Rees. Like all people, I have better and worse moments. With this blog article, inspired by the Easter season, I am writing how Jesus Christ takes away my fears when I believe in Him.

Doubt is specifically mentioned in another story around the same time. In Matthew 28, Jesus starts an amazingly powerful and joyful injunction right after he senses some doubt among His apostles. Shortly after His resurrection, His eleven remaining apostles went to where Jesus had told them to meet Him. “And when they saw him, they worshiped him: but some doubted.” Those eleven had seen inspiring miracles, but had also seen the frighteningly harsh treatment He had suffered, and perhaps were worried that there was about as much bad stuff ahead as good stuff. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” He reassures them that He has all power. He let people crucify Him out of love, not out of a lack of power. To me He is saying that His power is much bigger than my doubt. And He is telling them it is time for His gentle and great power to be proclaimed to bless everybody. After stating the power He has, He immediately goes into encouraging His disciples to bless all the world with His covenants and teachings.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. - Matthew 28:19-20.

I believe we can have a similar experience every time we reach out to God in prayer. He can reassure us of His love, power, and confidence, and inspire us to do better than we ever have before. And so, if we feel a little anxious, about going to work, serving in church, helping a neighbor, getting through clean-up time with kiddos in a kind-natured way, etc., I think that we can, by believing in and relying on Jesus Christ’s power, get rid of our fear and be confident as we do what needs done.

God can help us when we have a natural confidence, when we’re feeling doubtful or fearful, or in all other sorts of conditions, even when we have particularly unlikeable or bad characteristics. I love quotes showing God’s love for sinners. I have been especially moved by a talk by Richard G. Scott, an apostle of Jesus Christ who died several years ago, emphasizing that God wants us to pray to Him even when we have such an unpleasant characteristic as arrogance:

It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need no appointment. Our supplication can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or an urgent plea for help. He has created numberless cosmos and populated them with worlds, yet you and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer. - Talk by Elder Scott.

So, even if you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, or your family member woke up on the wrong side of the bed, or if somebody deeply disagrees with the kind of person you are, God will hear you and love you. 

This morning I found this beautiful tulip hidden next to our shed. I really wanted to buy tulips this year. I called a flower shop ahead, and learned they’d be available in a week. Then I waited a few weeks and went, and they were gone! But this tulip, through the wonders of God’s power, popped up in an unexpected way. 

Similarly, trusting in God can help in hidden ways, like this morning, when I might have felt sort of wandering and sad, but by trying to engage with people and in good work like Jesus would, I felt happier. I think that we can “unexpectedly,” or in ways that might be surprising to our faithless selves, change our fear to confidence as we learn of, trust in, connect with, and follow Jesus Christ the best that we can. I know He lives and loves us.