Published in the Idaho Statesman

The discussion over the future of US aid and immigration policies have a major impact on the future of the Gem State. That discussion should draw inspiration from Idaho’s inspiring heritage.

Idaho has been a refuge for those seeking freedom. Mormon pioneers and their descendants settled Idaho to pursue their faith and freedom. Catholic Basque immigrants fled Spanish oppression seeking freedom and opportunity.

Today, Idaho boasts one of the nation’s most successful refugee resettlement programs. This state’s exceptional legacy of welcoming the stranger, and flourishing with their contributions, must inform our choices regarding immigration.

Refugees are vital to Idaho’s economic success. Over a quarter of Idaho farmers are immigrants, making impressive contributions to the state. A report from the University of Idaho’s McClure Center suggests these immigrants are critical to Idaho’s economy, generating over $26 million in sales, property and state income tax.

Refugees like Thy Tran, an electrical engineer at Micron in Boise, are a model. Tran fled to the US as a young child after the fall of Saigon with her mother and brothers, and through hard work and dedication, has become an influential innovator in a business bringing significant investment to the state. Today this talented tech leader is the embodiment of Idahoan resilience.

As Sen. Jim Risch has noted, “We need to reform our current immigration laws, making a practical and workable program for legal immigration and workers.” Unfortunately, a growing segment of the American public and even the White House now favor a more draconian approach to immigration that ignores Idaho’s needs and could drastically impact our economy.

Whatever happens, it’s important that this debate is about human beings, made in the image and likeness of God. As a Catholic, I honor the inherent dignity of every person and the fundamental right of people to migrate in the face of threats to their lives.

Tragically, for too many around the globe and in our Western Hemisphere, that’s impossible. It’s no secret that the spike in migration from Latin America in recent years has been driven by political persecution, corruption and poverty. The journey north is perilous. Migrants cross unforgiving landscapes at the mercy of cartels. Many are trafficked for sex or labor, or even murdered. Still, they accept this risk, seeing America as a beacon of safety and hope. For them, we remain the shining city on a hill.

President Donald Trump has expressed America’s renewed commitment to leadership in the Western Hemisphere. We should start by ameliorating the conditions spurring irregular migration. US foreign aid can be a valuable tool in making the “right to stay” possible. Humanitarian organizations have helped Venezuelans fleeing oppression and starvation find sanctuary in Colombia and Ecuador. Faith-based organizations with a depth of knowledge and longstanding relationships in countries in troubled regions lend an unmatched perspective to these crises, promoting effective interventions that ensure safety and prevent the need for migration.

No program is perfect, and the government is right to root out waste, fraud and abuse. But our history is rich with successful, compassionate aid programs like the Marshall Plan that saved lives and changed the trajectory of history. Today, aid workers provide refuge and counseling to those fleeing persecution around the world, from Caracas to Darfur.

Polling shows a majority of Americans support foreign assistance, particularly enthusiastically when programs emphasize measurements, accountability, self-sufficiency. Simply put, sound programs should be designed to put aid organizations out of business.

At a time when aid is on the chopping block, we must get it right. Let’s reform development assistance, ensuring it is effective and targeted; so that it is not a handout, but the hand up our neighbors need. The Trump administration should partner with humanitarian and development organizations to implement foreign aid initiatives that reflect American domestic priorities, our international interests of peace and security, and our faith-based values, while cutting out programs that are inconsistent with those goals.