Funny you talk about empathy but don't extend the same to him. It's "imaginary line" when convenient to antagonize the offending country but when someone doesn't want to risk their life for some imaginary line they're a privileged blissfully ignorant sociopath.

Home is more about your family and your people. I would very much rather have all of them moved to another country safely than risk to protect the plot of land you call "home". Even If it's privileged it's also the most understandable and normal point of view