The Inquirer again takes an easy path

Being an editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer is pretty easy these days. 

Stuck for a story to lead the paper — the upper right corner of Page One? Just reach into the immigration grab bag, as it did with the story above published Tuesday, relying on information from “immigration activists.“

That position is reserved for the most important story in the world. Is this that?

It’s become such a default, the Inky didn’t even use the word “immigrant.” (The word “Illegal” was cancelled a  decade ago.)

You can read the first few paragraphs for yourself. I read everything else on Page One and beyond.

The story, written by staff writer Jeff “Open Borders” Gammage, refers to “Guatemalan men,” “young men,” “more men.”

It talks about “arrests,” but never mentions why people were arrested — which is being suspected of undocumented residency in this country. In other words, being here illegally, which qualifies a person for removal, meaning deportation.

But you can figure it out in this statement from Juntos, the Open Borders group based in South Philadelphia: “We’re disgusted but unsurprised by the most recent reports of ICE activity in our neighborhood. Masked agents, collateral arrests, and shadowy tactics — there are reports we have been receiving all year.”

Let’s be clear — Juntos wants no enforcement of immigration law. It is “disgusted” by law enforcement. 

As always, the Inquirer chimes in with commentary about “widespread fear” in “immigrant communities.”

Yes, there is fear among people here illegally. Like most criminals, no matter how petty, they fear getting caught. That explains the “fear.”

But that is no reason to not enforce the law. Nor for the Inquirer to hide pertinent facts.