What Is “Immigration Justice”?
At its core, “justice” is defined as "people getting what they deserve.” Now, some have strayed far (very far) from that definition. Nonetheless, true justice still exists, even if some people have forgotten its meaning. It is never too late to return to the truth.
“Immigration justice” can therefore be understood as people getting what they deserve in regards to immigration policy.
Do people deserve the ability to move into a nation, simply by arriving at that nation’s borders? No. That would be anarchy and chaos.
But do people deserve the ability to immigrate legally, in search of finding a better nation than the one they left, one that was founded on Biblical morality, economic freedom, and political accountability? Yes! Such immigrants are welcomed with open arms!
Welcome the Stranger
That is because God commanded his people to “welcome the stranger” (Deuteronomy 10:19).
The only way the United States can be welcoming to immigrants is to remain faithful to the principles that have made it a great nation. No one feels “welcome” in a nation that is governed by arbitrary rules, civil unrest, political chaos, and laws that apply one way to this person, but another way to another person. The irony is that many immigrants are fleeing such broken systems; now will America become the same?
The Synod of the CRC has taken a stand on immigration, calling for comprehensive reform that respects the rule of law, maintains the integrity of our borders, encourages fairness (i.e. impartiality) in the application of current immigration law, compassion for people who are in the USA illegally, and reform of current laws to decrease the number of people here illegally, while increasing opportunities for legal immigration to the United States. This is a good position to take!
Border chaos is not a good position to take. Encouraging people to intentionally violate the law by coming here illegally is not a good position to take. Leaving our border open and unsecured invites people to attempt dangerous, illegal, often deadly border crossings. It invites crime, violence against women, exploitation of children, and waves of illegal drugs.
Don’t Make It About Donald Trump
Now let me be frank. Some people oppose border security simply because our current President, Donald Trump, has made it such a large part of his presidency. They do not like Trump personally, so they oppose anything he supports. They do not want Trump to get a “win."
Is that the way Christians should act? Should we oppose something that is the right thing to do, simply because the “wrong” person wants it to happen?
A secure border is something that the membership of the Christian Reformed Church supports, recognizing that a secure border encourages orderly immigration, reduces crime and violence, and secures immigration justice.
Make the Call; Support Border Security
Considering all of this, you are called upon to contact your member of Congress, your Senators, and the President to voice your support for securing our border. In a budget of $4.4 trillion, it is reasonable for our elected officials to allocate 1/10 of 1% to border security.
Links to the CRC’s views on immigration reform can be found here:
