According to a recent Gallup poll, Americans cited immigration as the most important problem facing our country. I don’t know anyone, no matter where they stand on how to solve the immigration issue, who doesn’t think that what we are facing right now is a mess for everyone concerned. The key concern has to do with illegal immigration. Losing control of our borders. And no one wants to lose control.
And for obvious reasons.
In 2023 alone, U.S. Border Patrol reported more than 2.4 million encounters with migrants on the Mexican border. Texas has a backlog of nearly half a million immigration cases in its court system.
Like any other country, we have limited resources available to us to care for those who are within our borders. A limited number of jobs, limited housing, limited…everything. It doesn’t serve anyone to let people come only to have them go hungry or find themselves homeless or unemployed.
We also want to make sure that no one enters our country who is fleeing law enforcement in their own country. We don’t want to be a place where people come to escape justice. There isn’t a country on the planet that doesn’t have a vested interest in a secure border and a way of processing those who want to cross it.
Christians are particularly torn about this issue, because while they know they should be concerned about illegal immigration, they also acknowledge a responsibility to care for those who are wanting to come—or at least to listen to why they want to come—particularly if they are refugees. Meaning, if they are fleeing suffering or persecution, such as for their Christian faith.
Christians also have a heart for how the enforcement of border control is handled. No one wants to see children suffer nor families separated. Whether it’s processing someone for citizenship or deporting them, there should be compassion.
The Bible agrees.
First, there’s the rich deposit of verses that speak to the people of Israel in the Old Testament when they were immigrants, and how they should, in turn, treat others in the same situation. In other words, the Golden Rule (do to others what you would have them do to you) is explicitly laid out by God before the people of Israel.
Have empathy. You were once foreigners and immigrants, too.
Here’s a sampling of that reminder:
“You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 22:21, NLT).
“You must not oppress foreigners. You know what it’s like to be a foreigner, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 23:9, NLT).
“Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land. Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:33-34, NLT).
