By C. J. Garbo | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
The Dec. 4 article from the Castle Rock News-Press covering Castle Rock’s support for President Trump’s deportation plans reports on how the town is addressing a critical issue that challenges us to confront the real-life consequences of moral relativism and virtue signaling in border policy.
A clear, enforceable immigration system is not merely a political preference but a moral imperative with direct implications for human lives and national security.
Morality is not subjective; it is grounded in universal principles such as justice, order, and the protection of life. Abandoning border enforcement under the guise of compassion is not virtuous – it invites chaos. Failing to uphold the rule of law emboldens human traffickers, drug cartels, and other criminal enterprises, enabling them to prey on the innocent. Relativism in this context is not benign; it has deadly, measurable consequences.
Virtue signaling by opposing deportations or ignoring illegal crossings harms the very people it purports to help. It sends a global message that the rule of law is irrelevant, encouraging desperate individuals to risk their lives in perilous journeys. Many fall victim to traffickers, die en route, or face exploitation upon arrival.
Meanwhile, communities on both sides of the border bear the costs, grappling with human trafficking, narcotics flooding their streets, and overwhelmed social systems. True virtue lies in actions that protect the vulnerable, not in policies that exacerbate their suffering. Failing to enforce border security facilitates exploitation and victimization, making inaction not compassionate but negligent.
Objective morality demands that immigration be treated as a critical national and humanitarian concern, not as a political football. Borders safeguard a nation’s security and uphold its moral responsibility to ensure legal, fair, and safe processes for entry. Disregarding these principles abdicates both sovereignty and moral duty.
The consequences of open-border policies are stark: record-high fentanyl deaths, much of it trafficked through porous borders; a surge in human trafficking; and overwhelmed border communities struggling with crime and strained resources. Advocates of open borders who dismiss these realities are complicit in the harm their policies enable. Virtue signaling cannot replace accountability.
Taking a firm stance on immigration enforcement requires courage to reject the false morality of relativism and embrace principled action rooted in justice and compassion. Compassion is not ignoring laws but creating systems that protect the innocent, punish exploiters, and uphold the rule of law.
The article rightly emphasizes that open-border policies are neither virtuous nor sustainable. They are irresponsible, dangerously naive, and put lives at risk on all sides of the border. A humane, lawful immigration system is not just a policy goal – it is a moral necessity. It is time to prioritize action over posturing, principle over popularity, and security over chaos.
Lives depend on it.
C. J. Garbo is a cyber security executive for a global technology solutions company and a native of Colorado, holding a bachelor’s in political science from Metropolitan State University of Denver, and a master’s in human resource management from Regis University. He is the vice chair of the Douglas County Planning Commission and the senior legislative aide to Representative-elect Max Brooks of House District 45. CJ is also a 15-year former law enforcement veteran. He has worked on local campaigns, and as campaign manager for Joe Andujo (District 8, U.S. House) and Greg Lopez (governor). Additionally, he is a former chair of the Douglas County Young Republicans.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.