“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.” – Proverbs 31:8-9
My young immigrant friend keeps calling me. He knows that I work with churches and groups on immigrant/refugee ministry and that I keep up with what is happening from a policy perspective. So, he keeps calling and texting. He was brought here illegally when he was 2 years old. He’s now in his late 20’s and has lived in America all of his life. He is married and has children, all of whom are U.S. citizens. He works a job to support his family and works hard. He’s never been in trouble with the law and is a leader in his immigrant community.
My friend is currently allowed to do all of this because of DACA – “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” – that President Obama instituted to protect immigrant “Dreamers” from deportation in light of Congress not being able to pass legislation. He trusted our government’s offer, came forward, applied, paid the fees, went through background checks, and has kept up with his paperwork and has continued to abide by the terms of the program. Through this, he can provide for his children, who are U.S. citizens. DACA, which protects 860,000 people like my friend, is now under assault from 10 state Attorneys General who have warned President Trump that if he does not revoke DACA by September 5th, then they will file a lawsuit to have it struck down.
While President Trump has kept the program in place and indicated that he actually does not want to see Dreamers deported, his Justice Department has indicated that they will not defend DACA in the courts. As one Republican leader told me recently, “DACA is dead. We need a replacement.” I’m less interested in defending DACA than I am in what happens to the 1 million+ Dreamers if/when DACA goes away.
“You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.”—Leviticus 19:34
“Yeah we must pray, because my wife is already afraid because if they cancel DACA, they know my address …they might come for me…i asked the attorney and he said if they cancel it they will start to deport all the Dreamers without a criminal check … I’m scared too.”
This was the message from my friend the other day. His wife is afraid. He fears what will happen to him and his family. Keep in mind, he was brought here at 2 years old. He didn’t make the decision to come here. And, he is here legally under the protection of our government. But, that protection is in danger. What are we going to do about this? These are people in our churches.
If DACA goes away this Fall, as it very well could do, and if Congress does not pass legislation as a replacement, then all of these young people are stripped of their protection and reenter the larger population of undocumented immigrants who are subject to deportation. According to the release of internal DHS memos, the reality right now is that all of the undocumented immigrants in our country are now, essentially, priorities for deportation, whether one is a criminal or not. I’m personally aware of stories when people who came here as teenagers and young people are being pulled over for traffic stops in Georgia. Police ask for identification. When it can’t be produced, they aren’t just given a ticket, but are taken into custody and sent to a Federal detention facility where they await deportation. Whether or not they are the only provider for their family or if they leave citizen children behind is immaterial. Deportation has come not just to the “bad hombres,” but to the whole undocumented community.
It is one thing when violent criminals are being deported. But, what happens when it is a young man or woman brought here as toddlers and this is the only country they know?
Hear the story of Erick the Dreamer.
According to U.S. government numbers, there are 260,873 DACA recipients in the US South. There are approximately 860,000 DACA recipients overall in America. There might be a million more who are eligible and meet the requirements and are considered “Dreamers,” but have not applied.
“You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.”—Exodus 23:9
Evangelicals have a chance to speak and act on behalf of Dreamers. The President and political party in power making these decisions are those that we have sought to have a seat at the table with for the past several decades. Evangelicals, including Southern Baptists, voted for this president with 81% support, primarily because we thought that he would best represent biblical values on issues such as the sanctify of human life. Now that 1-2 million lives are potentially to be affected dramatically, are we able to muster the courage to speak on their behalf? To write an OpEd? Pray? Reach out to them in concern and ministry? Call or visit a Congressman or Senator’s office and express a desire to see these people who qualify provided with legalized status?
It would be a popular decision. According to a recent Morning Consult Poll, the vast majority of Americans want to see Dreamers who qualify (who haven’t committed crimes, who work, speak English, have graduated or are in school, etc.) be able to stay in the United States, recognizing that they were brought here as children and this is the country they grew up in. These numbers are consistent with a myriad of polls on this issue over the past year or two. The numbers are striking and do not match what we often hear in the media:
- 78% over voters say Dreamers should be allowed to stay. Only 14% say they should be deported.
- 78% of Evangelicals say they should stay with legalized status, 16% say they should be deported.
- In the South, 75% say they should be able to stay and only 15% say they should be deported.
- And, among Trump voters, 73% say they should be allowed to stay in some form of legalized status, while only 23% say they should be deported.
So, while the Rule of Law is important, our form of government states that laws can be changed. Senators Lindsey Graham and Dick Durbin introduced the Dream Act 2017 last week in the U.S. Senate. There are multiple versions of similar bills that have been introduced in the House. None of these bills are “amnesty.” They would only allow a path and process for these young people to get on to earn legalized status and then potentially earn citizenship down the road as they continue to work and go to school here in America. Just like I’m not advocating for DACA, per se, I’m also not advocating for one of these bills necessarily. The ultimate solution might look different from these bills. I just want to see some kind of solution for these young people, whatever the vehicle. I’ll advocate for them.
Currently, there is no way for these young people to gain legalized status unless they return to their home country and start over. That is an incredibly daunting task for someone who is 25 years old, has a family, and was brought here when he was 2 years old and has no memory of his home country. I have another friend who is 18 years old and he was brought here at 6 months old, He is the oldest in his family with 5 younger siblings who are all U.S. citizens. He told me that he doesn’t want handouts and desires to work and contribute. He is just asking if he can stay with his family and not be sent away. He knew what he was up against, but he just wants to stay with his siblings and not have to leave because of what side of the border he was born on. He is set to graduate high school this year.
These stories are endless. Evangelical Christians can make a difference here. These young people are in our communities and in our churches. So many of these young people are Christians. They play ball with our kids and have grown up alongside them in our neighborhoods. I’ve met them at SBC seminaries as they prepare for ministry and have met them in colleges. They are all around us. Can we not help them? Can we not speak on their behalf? What will be said of us who could have intervened if DACA is revoked and these young people are deported? We had all that wealth and all that power and what did we do with it? Perhaps, we will speak on their behalf and we will see a miracle. Perhaps we will be a nation not just of laws, but also a nation of mercy. Our immigration problems are 30 years in the making as our government failed in this essential task. Let’s not solve these problems by wrecking the lives of 1-2 million young people who were brought or sent here without being able to give consent. Can we not speak for them right now? The time is urgent.
Yes, we need border security, and I know that is being worked on feverishly by this administration. Yes, criminal aliens who have committed violent crimes need to be deported. Yes, the rule of law is important, and a decision to help these Dreamers get right with the law in a Constitutional and legislative way actually enhances the rule of law. But, we also must remember that these young people didn’t choose this. While we need justice, we also need mercy, especially for those who found themselves in this situation through no fault of their own. How we handle this will determine what kind of nation we are going to be for the foreseeable future.
The decision to either solve this or to deport these young people will be made by early September. We are at a crossroads. The issue has been forced. We can’t ignore this any longer. Southern Baptists could help solve this in the next 4-6 weeks if we would contact our Representatives and Senators and ask them to intervene on behalf of these young people and make a way for them to stay. Submit an OpEd to your local paper. Hold a meeting to pray for them. Go to them with prayer, ministry, comfort, and the gospel. It is amazing what an open door we have right now to minister to this population of people in need. Scripture would be on our side as would the heart of the God for the quartet of the vulnerable: the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the sojourner (Zechariah 7:8-14). What if we spoke out and used our freedom and influence to solve this major problem in our country on behalf of others?
What will we do? The crisis is upon us.
Additional Ministry and Advocacy Resources:
If you’d like more perspective on the issue of immigrant and refugee ministry and biblical advocacy, you can check out the When Heaven and Earth Collide Podcast on iTunes. I have interviews with SBC leaders such as Richard Land, Bart Barber, Danny Akin, JD Greear and Todd Unzicker, Bryant Wright, Matthew Hall, Vance Pittman, David Crosby, Ed Stetzer, and Trent DeLoach up so far. More are coming!
Also, here is a short video from Dr. Richard Land, former president of the ERLC, about the immigration situation and what a solution would look like.
And, finally, a resource that I prepared for the SBC Pastor’s Conference booth in Phoenix called Preaching God’s Heart for Immigrants and Refugees: Reaching the Nations in North America. This resource contains a theological perspective on immigrant and refugee ministry from Dr. Miguel Echevarria of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a missiological perspective from Keelan Cook of People’s Next Door NC, and a pastoral perspective, from Jonathan Akin, as he works through how to preach on the topic of reaching immigrants and refugees with the gospel.
And, finally, finally, Southern Baptists have spoken on this issue officially multiple times through SBC Resolutions. “Dreamers” are not spoken to directly, but these resolutions can be informative:
2011 SBC Resolution: On Immigration and the Gospel
2006 SBC Resolution: On the Crisis of Illegal Immigration.
Though in terms of policy, I think a few tweaks and some follow up legislation are needed to more wisely and charitably handle the influx of those desiring to come here, I am generally sympathetic to the DACA policy. We have been praying for more resources to send more missionaries overseas, yet now, God has decided to bring them to us (Acts 16:26). Immigrants, as a whole, maintain strong ties with their homeland. This is a great opportunity to turn complex domestic policy issue into a great evangelism strategy. Policy wise, I am conflicted on the best way forward, but… Read more »
Yes, BT. The policy is complicated and will be worked out by Congress. As Christians, we can speak into that and shape it from a biblical perspective. For those coming here, it is especially complicated. My concern here is for those who have already been here for some time and this is the country they know. Speaking for them and being concerned for them in brotherly love is a great way to minister to them during this very scary time in their lives. Thanks for the comment and the link!
Agreed. In addition to making sure I am adapting a biblical attitude toward the individual sojourner, immigrant, and refugee (and supporting policies that would further that attitude), I hope we also see the amazing opportunity to share the Gospel in an a kind of reverse Trojan horse kind of way. Appreciate your work in this.
BT, I totally agree. So much of what I do is to encourage churches to engage in mission to immigrant and refugees. They are here and God is sovereign. We should see this as an opportunity to engage in cross-cultural mission in our own neighborhoods and we should pivot to the nations among us with the gospel. Are you aware of the Reaching the Nations Conference at SEBTS in late October? The whole concept of Diaspora Missions will be thoroughly explored there. Very significant!
Alan, Yes, I am aware, and wish/hope I can attend. Unfortunately I will be overseas the first part of the month, and my seminar at NOBTS meets on the 26th. Not sure if I will be able to make those dates work. Diaspora missions is of great interest to me and I see the hand of God working through this movement of people, and hope the church is ready for this missions movement!
Do you write on this topic elsewhere?
Yes. Regularly. I work as a missional strategist for the Montgomery Baptist Association and help our churches engage immigrant populations in Central Alabama as well as elsewhere. From last year:http://alancrosswrites.com/reaching-the-nations-who-have-come-to-north-america-conference-august-26-27-2016/
I’m working on a book on this as well, especially as it relates to churches engaging immigrants in the South with the gospel and ministry. Hope to have it finished soon.
Alan: I really appreciate your heart on this. I have lots of thoughts, just briefly. 1. The scriptures you cite, frankly, do not have a direct application to this. I know that you think they do, and I respect that. But if “If my people, who are called by may name, …” and the other OT scriptures that I have been used to support a kind of mix of the US and ancient Israel, have been properly seen as not applying to the US, these scriptures that you cite, also, are not really controlling here. 2. The US is to… Read more »
Louis, thank you for sharing. I see your heart in this and do not fault you. To be clear on a couple of points: 1. Scripture. I get that the United States is not Israel and those Scriptures are not binding on the U.S. Perhaps I should have been more clear. I DO see them as reflective of God’s heart for His people and reflective of the ATTITUDE that we should take toward the sojourner and alien. So, for me, I read those Scriptures and they help shape my perspective toward people in need. I would probably see them similar… Read more »
Louis, completely agree. Well said.
Good grief! CA is 39% Hispanic! It’s a disaster! (except for the Hispanics whose lives are immeasurably better). — Is this not an example of white blindness, of a motive to preserve white privilege? Are we coddling this?
Are you saying that California is a disaster because it is 39% Hispanic?
What is an example of white blindness, of a motive to preserve white privilege? Your arguments seem contradictory, unless I am missing something, which I’m sure I am. Why don’t you explain a bit more?
John was one of my college buddies, Alan. I’m pretty sure he’s supporting you on this!
Louis,
I think in order to place immigration in it’s proper prospective is to remember we are all immigrants. We stole what we now call America from the Native Americans and even they came here from somewhere else.
Realizing that we are all immigrants allows me to have a tender heart for “all” those who seek a brighter future for themselves and want to contribute to society.
Jess: I understand what you are trying to say here, but following your prescription literally means no country is truly legitimate. The history of all nations is that they have been invaded by armies, migration etc. and they change over time. No one denies that. But recognizing that reality, and then applying it to current circumstances is quite dangerous because it legitimizes invasion and delegitimizes conscientious government. I know that’s not what you intend to say, but questioning the legitimacy of a country’s borders and policies regarding enforcing those borders such that a country is not really entitled to enforce… Read more »
Texas first belonged to Native Americans (Indians) who fought, one tribe against another.
Then France took over.
Then the Spanish.
Then Mexico.
Then Texans won their independence and formed the Republic of Texas in AD 1836.
Then Texas joined the USA in 1845.
Then the Confederate States of America.
Then back to the USA at the end of the Civil War, and ever since.
That is the reason for the expression, Six Flags over Texas: France, Spain, Mexico, Republic of Texas, Confederate, USA.
Louis, you’ve presented some good thoughts in this post.
David R. Brumbelow
No one is saying that we shouldn’t have borders or immigration laws. But, the examples above of how many times land has changed hands should give us some humility. For example, I’m from New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. My region has had the following inhabitants: Biloxi, Choctaw and other Native American tribes French explorers British French again in parts Spanish Republic of West Florida United States Mississippi Magnolia Flag Confederate States of America United States again During that time period, there have been an influx of immigrants, migrants, refugees, and slaves from France, Spain, Haiti, other Caribbean islands,… Read more »
I have fond memories of the Eight Flags Deer Ranch. The shootouts at the Six Gun Junction mesmerized us in our youth.
The monument said since its discovery, eight flags have flown over Biloxi: the French, English, Spanish, West Florida Republic, Mississippi Magnolia, Confederate State, Mississippi State, and that of the United States.
Alan, thanks for taking me back forty years.
I remember the 8 flags monument in Biloxi displaying the flags that have flown over the city.
https://www.biloxi.ms.us/Gallery/oldbiloxiphotos/biloxieightflags.html
Is that not what the article just said? The articlebsaid nothing of supporting anything illegal…Or do you disagree with the person he used as an example, whom has no memory of his own country, to go back there and start all over with the possibility of never returning back to the U.S?The only home he has ever known.
Alan: Thanks for the kind reply. I totally get where you are coming from and agree with you in the main. The fault of all of this is US. Not them. And it’s understandable. I totally understand the desire of people to make better lives. Hopefully, the administration will give priority to deporting the right people, and frankly, I think they are, but I don’t discount for a moment that is an imperfect task and that the innocent are affected. And hopefully, our legislators will figure this out. In the meantime, as has always been the case, if we deal… Read more »
Amen, Louis. I agree. Thank you. Appreciate your heart. On a more personal note, in my current work, I have met so many young people who are graduating high school who tell me they don’t remember their native country. Or, they vaguely remember a trip through the desert with their family when they were very young. They speak perfect English. The ones I’ve met are Christians. They don’t know what would happen if they are deported. Many have younger siblings who are citizens because they were born here – a status they cannot attain. They have asked me for help.… Read more »
I cannot imagine. I am glad that you are in a position to help people like that.
It is a very difficult issue.
I am not opposed to that. I’d probably hold open some hope of citizenship, but it would not be easy. I don’t know.
Frankly, I have opinions but I haven’t studied the issues like Alan (or perhaps you) and I know that the intricacies of this make it difficult.
Putting myself in that situation mentally. It would be as if you were in a nightmare. Thinking of living in the United States all my life, it’s all I have known along with the freedoms that come with that, and then to suddenly be facing deportation to a country I would not know anything about other than what I was told or read, would be like living a nightmare. I couldn’t believe it was happening, then to know that it is not a nightmare of reality would be beyond frightening. We have to help these people and I am so… Read more »
They are not focusing on deporting the right people. I’ve seen news stories over the past two weeks of people who should not be high priority for deportation being detained by ICE for likely deportation. Alan’s given several examples about, take particular note of the traffic stops he talked about. In the past the focus has been on getting criminals and dangerous illegal immigrants out and leaving the upstanding, peaceful people alone. That is changing rapidly and it’s part of what causes this issue to become pressing now.
I trust you investigated beyond the news reports….as often the whole story isn’t being told on the news and once ICE reveals more details – sometimes the deportation actions that seem to “be focusing on the wrong people”… Are actually not focusing on the wrong people at all.
Alan praise God for what you’ve written here. I hope many people will listen and heed your call.
I see criticism above that you’ve misapplied the Bible passages you quoted. That’s a claim I don’t quite understand – that God wanted Israel to treat the stranger/sojourner with compassion, love, and acceptance, but that somehow only applied to Israel? While every other nation is free to treat them as poorly as they see fit? What sense does that make?
Thanks, Brent. Right. I’m not saying that Israel’s law is to be the law of America. But, OT Law is to help us understand God’s character and is to influence the Christian and his approach to life. Thus, in a Democratic Republic where “we the people” are free to influence our laws and what our government looks like, it is totally appropriate and prescribed for us to take that compassion and concern that God clearly commands Israel to engage in, and then seek to influence our own towns, states, and nation in that way – because that is the type… Read more »
I appreciate your position. However, as you state, God wants us to obey the laws of our country. The presumption that DACA will end in the Fall is based on the assumption that it is invalid. While the individual you reference was brought here when he was 2, when he became an adult he knew he was in violation of the law and decided to continue to violate it. When he married and had children he knew he was illegal and the potential consequences of that status. If we allow people to violate laws because of their decisions, where will… Read more »
I agree that this should be resolved based on principles rather than emotion. I am putting forward biblical principles of justice, mercy, love for neighbor, care for the sojourner, concern for families being separated, etc. The idea of “obey the law” that you put forward is incredibly inconsistent with how our government works. Do we not ever try to change laws? Do we not elect officials so just laws can be put forward? Those here under DACA have obeyed the law by availing themselves of DACA and participating in it. DACA will only be revoked through a ruling of the… Read more »
If Congress changes the law and allows them to stay legally of course they should stay. I think your article assumed that a court would find President Obama’s order unlawful which would mean they aren’t here legally.
Again, how would those who are pursuing the legal approval to live here feel if those who flaunt the law are allowed to stay, bypassing them.
I’m not sure what our country will be like if we follow the “do what you want to do and ask forgiveness later” philosophy.
“I’m not sure what our country will be like if we follow the “do what you want to do and ask forgiveness later” philosophy.” I’m pretty sure that is not what happened here to these young people. Brought here as young children by their parents illegally. Grew up here. Lived here for many years. Many have no memory of their home country. Few have adequate resources to begin a new life in a foreign country. Have been granted legal protections to work and go to school the past 5 years. Now face prospect of those protections being taken away. This… Read more »
Alan, In the OP and the comment section, I have read you explain over and over how these young [er] people grew up here and had no choice as to where they grew up, and people keep calling them as breakers of the law. Its not a hard concept. Children go where their parents take them. And they should honor their parents and go with them. Neither can we expect them to grasp immigration laws when they are children. To them, the USA is their home country. Its really all ant of them even know. They may only know English.… Read more »
Mike Parsons, You are right. What surprises me is how many Christians act like agents of the state when it comes to this issue, instead of acting like the church and citizens of heaven. On other issues, we are fine with saying laws need to be changes, things are unjust, or things shouldn’t be a certain way. Could you imagine an Evangelical Christian saying that we shouldn’t oppose abortion because “the law is the law”? No, we’d say that the child is innocent and should not be aborted. Why would we not use that same logic when it comes to… Read more »
ParsonMikle “Children go where their parents take them. And they should honor their parents and go with them. ” Even if the parents must return to their own country because they are here illegally? If this is all it takes, then we tell the illegals all they need to do is get here and have kids. I am not removing compassion but compassion without order still leaves chaos. It seems some want the law to bend to the Christian compassion. The law is not an evil law, nor is is without compassion… compassion towards the legals and citizens of the… Read more »
Great point, Jon. There are people who clearly take advantage of the system simply by having anchor babies. I don’t think this has been addressed yet, but regarding Alan’s example of the immigrant pastor who came as a young child and America is all he ever knew…at what point does that pastor become convicted about his status here? Is it ok to rationalize being an illegal for the sake of having compassion for the family? I don’t think so and it’s simply not fair to the other immigrants who have done things the right way to either obtain citizenship or… Read more »
Hi Alan,
I had a quick question for clarification, you said in your post in multiple places that 860k-ish folks are under DACA. At another point you state that it affects over a million.
I am assuming you are referring to the folks directly covered by DACA and their families, but I was wondering if there was another set of data that I’m not seeing.
None the less, thank you for the food for thought.
860K have received DACA. There are estimates that over a million would benefit from the proposed legislation. There are multiple reasons that those eligible for DACA have not yet received it. I don’t know all the particularities of that and much of that will eventually be worked out in the sausage-making of Congressional committee work, I imagine. But, from what I understand, 860K have received DACA. 1.8 million people were brought here as children who could potentially qualify. BUT, to receive the protection offered under these proposed bills, they would have to meet a host of criteria including … 1.… Read more »
Thank you for the clarification. I know it doesn’t really change the heart of the matter, but I was curious.
Thanks for this, Alan. I honestly listen to or watch very little news anymore. This helps me understand the situation.
The major concern that I have is that any policy to allow those here illegally to become legal is that it rewards illegal behavior. It appears unjust to those who are trying to come here legally but are waiting in the long lines. What do you say to them? Sorry, you should have broken the law, too. And I know, DACA is specifically addressing those who are here by no choice of their own. Can I steal from someone else and give it to my child and claim, not their fault, can’t take it back? And I am generally sympathetic… Read more »
Seems like you answered your own question. Those here by no choice of their own under a government who looked the other way and did not enforce its own laws for 3 decades and then granted them deferred action on deportation for 5 years should now yank that away and deport them? If your concern is justice for those waiting in line, what about these kids who grew up here and this is the only country they have ever known now being deported? Who are we more obligated to? Someone who filled out an application to come here and is… Read more »
This is a conversation for me, not an argument – a desire to figure out this tough issue. Let’s say that we have compassion and let the dreamers stay here since they are here through no fault of their own. What do you do with their parents? More compassion, or do we enforce the law? Where does that end?
Permit me to be crass, political, and totally ignore the morality, decency, and justice aspects of all of this to make an observational comment. If the GOP enacts policies that result in otherwise law-abiding, decent, and productive people getting deported, they will get eviscerated in the press and public opinion will turn against them. Please, President Trump and Congress – deal with border security. Deal with criminal elements among the illegals. Go for it. But if you over play your hand and start sending young people who came over here at age 2 and graduated with honors, pastors who serve… Read more »
Dave: That’s why a legislative solution would be best. Let them stay, like Green Card holders, but not be citizens. I see no unfairness in that. But as your rightfully caution the Reps not to overplay their hand, the Dems should willingly sign on to such a plan. Otherwise, it would become painfully obvious that the Dem plan is to a “farm team” of future voters. That is not an insignificant danger. It can affect many things – freedom being the main one. I ask people all of the time who generally favor more immigration to the US if they… Read more »
It will not turn their base against them. And for members of congress to steal from an old pop song, the base is all they really need.
As one who lives as a legal immigrant in a foreign country, there are laws here that I follow to work and interact properly and legally with the country and government. I am all in for working with the immigrants (legal or illegal) in the name of Christ wherever you can and however you can but I am also supportive of a legal status that is fairly earned and legally bound. We work with many wonderful people (here legally) but in the labor camps. It is tough ministry, mainly due to the long hours they work and little time to… Read more »
Let me add to my comments above… The parents of the dreamers need to have a way to have legal means in which to remain. The government needs to find a way to make them legal without giving them citizenship automatically. If the parents do not have or refuse to become legal residents (different than citizens at this point), then their minor children (dreamers) are affected by the decision of the parent, not the government (initially). We have people here (not Emirates) that fly to the USA just to deliver (passport babies). I have talked one family out of it… Read more »
The problem is decades old. Congress has not moved on this issue for too long and many suffer for it. I live in a country where the government is pernicious and laws change continually. Yet, I have managed to stay legally. There has always been a legal path. In the US that path is unclear at best and impossible to follow too often. Why are so many immigrants illegally here? Because they are criminals is the usual assumption but the reality is that the vast majority have come legally in good faith and then were betrayed by a cumbersome broken… Read more »
Jon, If the children were born outside the country and are now over 18, deporting their parents still leaves these young adults in limbo. They or many of them only know this country and our culture and know nothing or little of the land where they were born. If they meet the requirements: working, speak English, no criminal record, and are basically contributing to our society, we as Christians should seek laws that allow them to stay and possibly have a path to citizenship. I believe this thinking properly reflects how God sees aliens and sojourners and brings glory to… Read more »
There was some commentary above regarding the fact that California is now 39% Hispanic. Here is a short article showing the recent statistics for California and some other states: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/01/24/in-2014-latinos-will-surpass-whites-as-largest-racialethnic-group-in-california/ I believe the concern is not which particular race wins the prize for having the most. That, in and of itself, is not relevant. The concern is the rapid shift in population trends and the impact. For a State as large as California to see these large statistical swings in such a short period of time is significant. There was a significant swing just from 2000 to 2014. The economic… Read more »
Louis, the requirements to be eligible for legalized status under the Dream Act are substantial: 1. Have been brought/sent here as a minor 2. No criminal record 3. In school or have graduated from High School and/or show you are continuing education 4. Speak English 5. 3 years of work or military service In other words, the ones who would qualify must speak English, be educated, and work to support themselves. It would be an application process. A lot of undocumented immigrants are being deported right now. A lot were deported under the Obama Administration. The border is being secured.… Read more »
Here’s the deal, if I were a man with a family in Northern Mexico, I would do everything I could do to get them to the US. I read in the OT about God commanding Israel to treat foreigners among them with mercy, because Israel had been strangers in Egypt. We too, are strangers and pilgrims upon the earth.