"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." -1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Unfortunately, these wise words from the first book of Corinthians do not resonate with the world we live in today. Hate seems to persist amongst so many of us who rebuke it. News sources and other media outlets do not point us in the right direction, towards love, but rather focus on hate. As a result, these reports divide us, pinning human beings against one another.

In the recent news reports regarding the arrival of the migrant caravan in Tijuana, Mexico, there has been a misleading undertone in these newscasts, pointing towards hate rather than love. It can be seen on both sides, so it does not matter which news station you watch. Hate does not have any political affiliations or loyalty...it permeates all who try to label and classify it. All in all, news reports do not accurately report these issues. Most news anchors never step outside of the comfort of their studio, and for those that do, they do not realize that a temporary visit does not fully capture the lasting impacts of the issues that affect these locations.

While the news reports ultimately fail to portray the issues discussed, they serve as a glance into the lives of the afflicted for the general public to not only view but discuss in their daily lives. Maybe that is why our President is so vocal about "fake news"...because what many see on the news is what they believe, say, and act.

If I turned on any news channel, I cannot recognize any immediate signs of love. Each station takes their own political sides and ultimately fights one another, placing "the blame" to whomever they believe is responsible. And while news stations are too busy in this endless screaming-match of who wins political discussions at the dinner table, no solutions ever arise. The problems are simply made worse.

News channels are too focused on a debate when they should be working towards a dialogue, a discussion...a middle ground. But in the end, they are not the ones who are directly involved in this situation. Migrants and law enforcement, with the cooperation of the government, need to unite. This can only be possible with love from both perspectives of the issue.

Law enforcement, specifically Border Patrol, has a responsibility to their country to maintain. At their own risk, these officers pledge their lives to the safety of the American people by protecting the United States borders. Although methods of protection are more controversial than others, it is necessary to acknowledge the primary focus of their job as Border Patrol Agents is safety.

Sending thousands of military troops down to the border has produced a militarized image instead of a loving one, influencing feelings of prejudice, hatred, and disrespect to law enforcement amongst caravan members. When these individuals arrive at the border, they are met with armed troops, willing to use whatever amount of force is necessary to maintain "law and order". This militarized image, which has been approved and encouraged by the White House, prompted the utilization of tear gas against migrants and ultimately the horror, shock, and fear from this decision.

However, violence cannot be solved with violence. In the same way that the utilization of tear gas by United States troops should never be justified, neither should it be justified for migrants to throw rocks or assault Border Patrol agents. In the wise words of Martin Luther King Jr.: "Violence as a way of achieving justice is both impractical and immoral".

Although these stories of violence are being widely discussed in the current political cycle, they do not serve as accurate representations of all migrants or of all law enforcement agents. The power of inaccurately labeling and stereotyping further separates these two groups, making middle ground harder to grasp. Just as the generalization of these migrants as "stone cold criminals" is inaccurate so is the perception that every law enforcement officer is heartless, racist, or xenophobic. Unfortunately, false generalizations have attempted to characterize all migrants and law enforcement a certain way that not only ignores their distinct individualism but also further exclude coexistence.

Along with false generalizations of both of these groups, another element that excludes any solutions is the mass politicization of immigration. Obviously, immigration directly relates to political issues, but the refusal to acknowledge immigration as both a political and human issue limits the amount of love, empathy, and compassion for those of both sides on the spectrum who are directly impacted by it.

The first step to the acknowledgment of the humanity behind immigration is enforcing international law that ensures all human beings the right to take refuge and claim asylum. Although asylum has been recently politicized in current politics, it is important to note that it is not our position to judge another's claim for asylum. For example, saying "That is not a good enough reason to be here" is neither my place nor responsibility. Merely judging a migrant from a picture or video shown on the news does not tell you his or her story.

And even for the people who do judge these migrants' stories, maybe common ground between both sides of the political spectrum is the agreement that the current process is outdated, ineffective, and ought to be reformed. With Election Day occurring less than a month ago, make sure that your elected representatives are initiating necessary change for this process. This can signify an outreach of love from Washington to migrants all over the world that can improve relations in general.

From the other perspective, I can see how efforts towards love may fail when there is violence, corruption, excessive force, and destruction. Some of the migrants who seek asylum yet are attempting to knock down the border fence and disrespect natives of Tijuana, Mexico does not equally reciprocate love in efforts of a peaceful migration. In the same way, using excessive force, like tear gas, equally misconstrues efforts towards a middle ground. Thus, when love fails from both sides, it seems as though coexistence is never possible.

As I write this, I am more conflicted than ever. My heart breaks at the controversy that stems from a lack of love, and there is only a limited amount of words that can attempt to describe what I am feeling. I do not have all the answers to these problems I have suggested, nor do I think I should have all of the answers. But I do believe the best way to finding a solution is a bipartisan discussion that revolves around a middle ground rooted in love. Without love, we will continue to hold debates, thinking that the loss of migrant lives every day is something that we can "win" or "lose" at a dinner table.

As someone who clings onto hope when all else abandons it, I have faith that love will conquer because love extends beyond borders. Love is not a privilege, it is not something you earn based on the location of your birth, ethnicity, race, gender, immigration status, or the legitimacy of one's story. Rather, love is the force that will bring people together, even migrants and law enforcement, to reach a middle ground.