The Trump administration’s announcement that it would rescind the Obama administration’s DACA program, which has protected about 800,000 undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation, has split Trump’s Religious Right supporters.
In an open letter released this week, Evangelicals for Biblical Immigration repeated anti-immigrant groups’ rhetoric about undocumented criminals stealing American jobs—complete with a thinly veiled swipe at philanthropist and right-wing bogeyman George Soros—and marshalled biblical support for a border wall.
Evangelicals who oppose comprehensive immigration reform sometimes cite Bible verses saying that national boundaries are set by God. The new letter from Evangelicals for Biblical Immigration said that God condemns “the destruction of borders and indigenous culture.” It would be interesting to ask what they mean in this context by “indigenous”:
It is easier to speak publically of mercy, as we, and many do. And, while loving mercy, who will also stand for justice to those citizens who cannot find a job due to cheaper foreign labor? Who will speak of the real cost of illegal immigration to our states? And while many non-citizens are good neighbors, who will stand for justice for Americans victimized by people here illegally who do not uphold our values and laws? And who will prevent more needless crime and death?
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While some faith groups use selective Bible words for open borders and amnesty, we consider the whole counsel of Scripture. We find that the Bible does not teach open borders, but wise welcome. We are to welcome the lawful foreigner, who, like a convert, comes as a blessing (eg.s Ruth and Rahab). We also find Nehemiah building walls to protect citizens from harm. In Isaiah 1, we see God condemn the destruction of borders and indigenous culture.
All lives matter. The lives of North, Central and South Americans matter. The lives of Africans, Asians, Europeans and people form the Middle East matter. In Scripture, we learn that God placed us each in a family, a land, an epic story of creation, the fall and redemption. The Bible envisions a world of beautiful and unique nations, not a stateless “open society” run by global oligarchs. Each of us is called to be a blessing where God has placed us in the world.
The Evangelicals for Biblical Immigration letter’s signers include “historian” David Barton, Family Research Council Vice President Jerry Boykin, American Pastors Network’s Sam Rohrer, and Vision America’s Rick Scarborough, Virginia activist and GOP politician E.W. Jackson, Reclaiming America for Christ’s Paul Blair, conservative radio hosts Steve Deace and Eric Metaxas, commentator John Zmirak, the National Religious Broadcaster’s Jerry Johnson, and anti-immigration activist Maria Espinoza.
Their take on the issue is not shared by some of Trump’s other ardent Religious Right backers, including members of the apostolic POTUS Shield and Hispanic evangelical leader Samuel Rodriguez, who had urged Trump to show that he has a “heart” for the DREAMers and embrace a more “compassionate immigration” policy. Members of Trump’s evangelical advisory board were quick to put the best face on the decision, taking credit for the six-month delay before DACA is formally rescinded.
Rodriguez had urged Trump not to “break his promise to us to protect these children” and warned that if he did, the administration “should be prepared for a mass exodus of the administration’s Hispanic support.” After Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced plans to rescind DACA, Rodriguez, as the Washington Post noted, expressed his disappointment and “put the onus on Congress,” saying “the President has provided Congress a six month window to legislate a more permanent and legally defensible solution for DREAMers.”
Rodriguez, who recently described his access to Trump as “God-ordained and God-given,” was in the White House last week with other leaders pleading the DREAMers’ case. Rodriguez had initially been extremely critical of candidate Trump. But he also told voters that getting a conservative Supreme Court justice was more important than immigration reform. And once it was clear that Trump would be the GOP nominee, Rodriguez and his colleagues at the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference threw immigrant families under the Trump train.
Here’s the text of the Evangelicals for Biblical Immigration letter to Trump, McConnell and Ryan:
It is easier to speak publically of mercy, as we, and many do. And, while loving mercy, who will also stand for justice to those citizens who cannot find a job due to cheaper foreign labor? Who will speak of the real cost of illegal immigration to our states? And while many non-citizens are good neighbors, who will stand for justice for Americans victimized by people here illegally who do not uphold our values and laws? And who will prevent more needless crime and death?
The Church is called to serve all people, and our Government leaders are elected to defend and uphold the Constitution and the rule of law. Though there are tragic stories on every side of illegal migration, for our elected officials, responsibility to oaths must prevail. Law and order sustain stability and peace. A nation of wise rule grows strong enough to care for the vulnerable in our midst.
While some faith groups use selective Bible words for open borders and amnesty, we consider the whole counsel of Scripture. We find that the Bible does not teach open borders, but wise welcome. We are to welcome the lawful foreigner, who, like a convert, comes as a blessing (eg.s Ruth and Rahab). We also find Nehemiah building walls to protect citizens from harm. In Isaiah 1, we see God condemn the destruction of borders and indigenous culture.
All lives matter. The lives of North, Central and South Americans matter. The lives of Africans, Asians, Europeans and people form the Middle East matter. In Scripture, we learn that God placed us each in a family, a land, an epic story of creation, the fall and redemption. The Bible envisions a world of beautiful and unique nations, not a stateless “open society” run by global oligarchs. Each of us is called to be a blessing where God has placed us in the world.
In policy decisions ahead, while treating undocumented people kindly, we ask that you would first and foremost honor often forgotten American citizens whose families have served our nation for many generations, and the patient people who have applied lawfully to come here and to become citizens of the United States. These lives also matter. These people also dream.
