EU citizens as bargaining chips

How is it ok to maintain this so-called bargaining-chip stance with regard to the status of EU citizens living in the UK? We are playing with the lives of innocent people. This wasn't their fault. This wasn't their battle. How is this different in its moral-foundation from the use of human shields? Or collateral damage in military campaigns? Or hostage-taking?
I know that sounds extreme but it seems to me that we are behaving appallingly on this. Three million innocent people live in our country, entirely legally, and often at our direct invitation (I'm thinking of deliberate recruitment of EU nationals to staff the NHS for example). Some have been here for forty years or more. This IS their home. They have married here. Have children here. Own houses here. Have friends here. Belong to social groups such as choirs and sports clubs. Have memories here. They have worked and paid taxes here. Paid into pension funds here. They have donated to charities here and volunteered for local schemes. They have taught our children and students here. Nursed and saved our citizens here. I repeat, this is their home.
How would it feel to have all that pulled from underneath you? And they weren't even allowed a voice in the decision.
Brexit is already getting out of hand. The specifics of how the opportunist Mrs May is handling Brexit can hardly be representative of many of us. Brexit could go ahead without treating EU nationals like this.
Brexit is every bit and more complicated than we were warned. I suggest we put all else aside for one moment and look at this issue alone. Forget trade deals. Forget workers' rights. Forget animal rights and food-safety standards. Forget blue passports. Forget the ECJ. Forget the Irish border. Forget Scottish Independence. Forget the NHS.
Look simply at how our country is treating innocent people who were once our guests-turned-family. Ask yourself if it's ok to threaten them and their families so that we (whoever "we" are) can indulge our desire to play posturing games of nationalism.
Ask yourself: when the history books are written about this policy, will you want to look your grandchildren in the eye and say "Yes, I supported that"?

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