You have heard it said: “As long as they come legally.”
How can we expect anyone to “obey immigration laws and process” when the United States, while wagging its crooked finger, is not obeying the international laws regarding asylum it established and agreed to? Is that the sort of “Big Brotherly love” we want to offer?
In 1947, the United States was a prominent world leader in the United Nations (UN) that sought to alleviate the suffering of millions of migrants and refugees. In particular, Jewish refugees were given special consideration in the post-war wake of the Holocaust.
In 1951, the UN declared that refugees could not be deported to their country of origin if they would likely face torture or cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment.
In 1980, the United States Congress passed the Refugee Act, which President Jimmy Carter signed into law. This act allowed noncitizens to enter the United States permanently and systematically for humanitarian reasons. It was a step toward fulfilling the United States’ obligations under international law, adopting language from the United Nations.
Against that backdrop, from 1953 onward, The United States was involved in coups that destabilized democratically elected officials, legitimizing CIA-backed dictators in Central and South America. These human rights violations largely occurred in the Americas but were not exclusive to this part of the world.
Asylum seekers are well within their rights as human beings according to the US, United Nations and International Law. Historically, the United States has made legal commitments to refugees and asylum seekers while simultaneously creating hostile environments that produce them.
It is the United States who is illegally moving people across borders, back to their countries of origin without a just trial for asylum status.
Setting aside the legal obligations of the United States, how many of our loved ones remember where we come from? Aren’t most of our families descendants of immigrants, whether by their own will or by force? Is there any place the United States is not from?
Regardless of legal obligation or familial history, for those of us who are Christians, what does our faith require of us?
Might we consider Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s voice on this? In his Letter From a Birmingham Jail, he wrote:
“In a real sense, all life is interrelated. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be…This is the inter-related structure of reality.”
On a more foundational level, might we also remember the person of Jesus? What did Herod want to do to all the families? What did Joseph and Mary and the child born in Bethlehem need to do?
How far did they have to run away? What did the Torah, which Jesus would have read from a young age, say about welcoming immigrants? What did Jesus say?
“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35).
“Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40).
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27).
Given all of this, can anyone make a Christian case that there is even an option in our obligation of hospitality to the stranger, alien and foreigner? Who will argue with God on how God’s children are to be treated?
We have heard it said, “As long as they come legally.” But, what does Jesus of Nazareth say to us?
As one last personal note, it may come as a surprise to some, but I am an Eagle Scout, which is where much of my rage over how we have responded to the immigration crisis comes from.
As scouts, we were taught: “A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.”
How many of these virtues are this country embodying? Are there any?
Should we have lower expectations of our government and leaders than we do of teenagers and families on the run from violent persecution?
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Brien Luke McChesney is a First year Master of Divinity student at Iliff School of Theology. He is pursuing ordination in the United Methodist Church and is passionate about college ministry, youth ministry and children’s ministry. He is happily married to the most amazing woman ever, Liz, whose encouragement and support makes all of his work possible.
