Welcoming these kids is the least we can do

These attempts to physically blockade busloads of Central American kids are just embarrassing and sad. The protesters aren’t somehow citizen-enforcing immigration law—the kids are already in custody!—and they aren’t simply making a political statement. They’re trying to prevent the authorities from doing their job under the law. That’s a pretty radical step to take on behalf of nativism and xenophobia.

Here’s a distinctly unradical approach: Keep the kids here, safe and cared for, until they can have a proper hearing, as the law requires. Make sure they have lawyers. Determine if they qualify for refugee status, as the U.N. insists most of them do. Use deportation very, very cautiously.

Due process and the rule of law for potential refugees—that’s not bleeding-heart idealism. It’s a minimum standard of the American way. Give me, if not your tired and your poor and your huddled masses, at least your downright persecuted and traumatized.