Should Christian values dictate our immigration policies?

From an anti-immigration conservative perspective, Christian principles can and should guide U.S. immigration policy, but these principles do not necessarily call for open borders or leniency toward illegal immigration. Instead, they emphasize order, responsibility, and protecting the well-being of the nation’s citizens. Here’s how Christian values can align with a stricter approach to immigration.

Protecting the Rule of Law

Christian teachings emphasize the importance of law and order, as evidenced in biblical passages like Romans 13:1-2, which calls for respecting governing authorities and laws. Immigration laws are essential to maintaining a secure and orderly society. From this perspective, allowing or encouraging illegal immigration undermines the rule of law and creates chaos, which goes against the Christian principle of maintaining peace and order within society. A well-regulated immigration system that enforces laws is seen as a moral duty to uphold justice and fairness for all citizens.

Caring for One’s Own Community

While Christianity promotes compassion and charity, it also emphasizes the importance of caring for one’s immediate community and family first. In 1 Timothy 5:8, the Bible stresses the responsibility to care for one’s family before others. In a similar sense, a country has a moral obligation to prioritize the needs of its citizens, particularly those who are struggling economically or socially. Flooding the labor market with cheap immigrant labor, or overwhelming public services with undocumented migrants, can harm vulnerable citizens, particularly lower-income workers and families.

Immigration policy must balance compassion with the duty to protect and uplift the country’s own citizens first. An uncontrolled influx of immigrants strains resources, potentially causing harm to those in need within the U.S. Therefore, responsible limits on immigration align with the Christian principle of ensuring the welfare of the community before extending aid elsewhere.

Compassion with Responsibility

Christianity teaches compassion for the stranger, as illustrated in the biblical story of the Good Samaritan. However, this compassion does not mean advocating for policies that encourage lawbreaking or that place undue burdens on society. True Christian compassion involves helping people in need while ensuring that aid is provided in a way that does not harm the greater good. In the context of immigration, this could mean offering help to refugees and those in dire need, but through a regulated and legal process that maintains control over borders and resources.

Protecting the Nation’s Sovereignty

A nation has the right to defend its borders and maintain sovereignty, a principle that resonates with both conservative views and Christian teachings on stewardship. In Genesis 1:28, humans are called to steward the Earth and its resources responsibly. Applied to immigration, this principle implies that a country has a moral duty to protect its borders, economy, and culture from being overwhelmed by uncontrolled immigration. This stewardship includes maintaining a secure border and implementing policies that ensure only those who respect the laws and customs of the country are granted entry.