IMMIGRATION REFORM and THE BIBLE

Immigration Reform and the Bible by Bill Wilson

Center stage in the news now is what they are calling "immigration reform." After eight years of a "president" with an open border policy and encouraging illegal migration with dire consequences, the new administration is first attempting to enforce the law-something activist courts are resisting-and then trying to pass new laws to correct the policies of the former "president." This has been met with considerable debate over a small group of people called "Dreamers" who were brought to the country as children by the illegal entry of their parents. The lax or mostly non-enforcement of border security by the previous "president" has caused great problems in America. What does the Bible say about immigration?

The Bible is very clear about how to handle immigrants. Exodus 22:21 says, "You shall neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him." This is repeated in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. In context, Exodus 12:49 says, "One law shall be to him that is home-born, and unto the foreigner who sojourns among you." This is also repeated in Numbers and Leviticus. One law for all. In this context it is God's law, but these people neither want to submit to the laws of the nation or to God's laws. If they are here illegally, they have broken the law as their first act. Hard as it is, policymakers must address this, otherwise our country is in danger of becoming a lawless society.

The Center for Immigration Studies analyzed data released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. From 2010 to 2016, ICE released 124 aliens who have been charged with 135 new homicides--some have been released multiple times. In 2014, ICE released a total of 30,558 criminal aliens. These aliens had already been convicted of 92,347 crimes before they were released by ICE. As of July 25, 2015, a total of 1,607 aliens had been convicted of a crime after being freed by ICE. The total number of new crimes for which these aliens were convicted after ICE released them was 2,560, including: 298 dangerous drug offenses, 185 assaults, 40 weapons offenses, 28 sex offenses, 10 sex assaults, four kidnappings, two arsons, and one homicide. The numbers have escalated since the study.

There are many stories about murders, robberies and other terrible crimes, no less terrorism, that are the result of illegal entry into our country. A nation must have secure borders otherwise it really is not a nation. Politicians have created a terrible situation for many families who thought they could come to the US for a better life and are now caught in a web because they did it illegally. Others came to take advantage of what America offers. Still others came to destroy the country. This is why a nation must have laws to protect its citizens. It is a clear example of what happens when God's laws are not followed-consequences such as crime, terrorism and family devastation.