Immigration and the American Border Policy: A Christian Response

This article by Hannah R. tied for third place in the 2006 Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Washington Office Annual Public Policy Essay Contest.

In an age when millions of people celebrate Diversity Day as a national holiday and recognize the March on Washington as an honorable moment in history, it seems incongruous that the growing number of immigrants to the United States continue to face animosity. Today, immigration is near the top of most American's list of problems facing the nation -- a concern that, in many people's minds, outweighs all other threats save that of international terrorism (Jacoby 50). This development has become progressively more controversial as opinionated citizens attempt to make their voices heard. Because this issue affects thousands of people's lives, careful consideration regarding all opinions is essential. As a Christian community, our primary concerns should not be on the economic or political issues of this debate, but rather on the welfare of the individuals whose lives are inevitably affected.

By historical standards, the number of immigrants living in the United States is unprecedented, m January of 2001, the Center for Immigration Studies reported that over 1.2 million legal and illegal immigrants combined now settle in the U.S. each year, with approximately 70 coming from Mexico (Francis 109).

As Americans observe the changes that accompany this trend, differences of opinion are inevitable. Many citizens object to immigration for economic reasons. They fear that immigration will inevitably lead to heavier social burdens, higher tax bills, and new demands of schools, hospitals, and other public services. These people believe that illegal immigrants are lowering economic opportunities by taking jobs that would otherwise be filled by Americans.

In contrast, others argue that without willing Mexican laborers, the United States' economy would collapse. Many American businesses are eager to hire immigrant laborers, regardless of their legal status, in order to maintain low wages and thus increase profit. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, there are currently nearly 8 million illegal aliens employed in the U.S. This number clearly illustrates how dependant the United States is on undocumented laborers.

From a Christian perspective, however, both of these arguments are entirely irrelevant. While it is true that immigrants play a crucial role in our economy, it is wrong for Americans to view these people as mere "worker ants" whose primary purpose is to serve as the country's economic backbone. This way of thinking bases a person's worth solely on their productivity. Instead of looking at this matter in terms of what is most beneficial to the economy, we should concern ourselves with the individual relationships that are involved.

Another concern regarding immigration is a fear that the United States is in danger of a cultural invasion. Some Americans worry that new immigrants will not adopt American customs and values. In response to these concerns, politicians such as Representative Tom Tancredo from Colorado and Senator Trent Lott from Mississippi feel that it is necessary for the government to position U.S. soldiers on the border with Mexico to protect the country against illegal immigrant entry. They believe that the federal government has a constitutional obligation to protect the states against invasion and that the military is the only public agency capable of carrying out this duty. These people feel that illegal immigration is a matter of national security (Francis 109). However, militarizing the border raises serious concerns. Lawrence Korb, former assistant secretary of defense in the Reagan administration stated rather directly, "The military is trained to vaporize, not Mirandize." Korb's point is that the military is more concerned about eliminating the targeted enemy than preserving human rights (Healy 116).

Even the Pentagon has voiced hesitations. In 2002, when Congress pushed to enforce troops along the border, Pentagon officials raised the possibility of an "unlawful and potential lethal use offeree incident" if the troops were armed. Ultimately, the government placed about 1,600 unarmed National Guardsmen at the Mexican and Canadian borders for a six-month mission. A Pentagon official told United Press International, "We don't like to see these things. We do them as a matter of last resort. That's why we entered into this undertaking with a specific end date and a specific requirement" (Healy 116).

As Christians, we need to step back and reevaluate the likely outcome of such a decision. It is true that the U.S. military force is an effective fighting force. However, it can become extremely dangerous if people begin to see the military as a cure for every security problem that United States faces. In order to remain consistent with the teachings of Christ, Christians are called to resolve conflicts peacefully. Non-Christians may misinterpret welcoming actions toward immigrants as weakness since they refrain from asserting dominance. Often when people feel threatened, they often turn to military protection as a means to assert control.

A militarized border would undoubtedly have a negative effect on the communities along the border. In order to effectively protect the border and assert its authority, U.S. troops purposely create a climate of fear. This general atmosphere is detrimental to the peace and well-being of surrounding communities. Since members of the military function with such an ingrained war mentality, they treat everyone who crosses or assists someone who crosses the border as the enemy (Healy 117). On October 26,2006, President George W. Bush signed a controversial bill that authorized the construction of a 700-mile fence along the border with Mexico. The purpose of this barrier is to block routes used by many immigrants who cross into the United States illegally (Border Fence).

Following through with this proposal, however, would not only be detrimental to relationships between Mexico and the U.S., but it would also hurt individual immigrants. Since the fence would cover only the most accessible border roads, it would force immigrants to make an even more dangerous trip through unsafe desert conditions. The fence would also send a clear message that the primary focus of our nation is on preserving a prideful sense of nationalism, free from outside influence. Mexican President Vicente Fox has called the fence shameful, and compared it to the Berlin Wall (Border Fence).

If Christians were to support the construction of this fence, they would essentially communicate to immigrants that "strangers and aliens" are not welcome. However, this way of thinking runs completely counter to biblical teachings. The Old Testament frequently instructed God's people to care for immigrants. "When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as your fellow citizen. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt" (Leviticus 19:33-34). This message appears again in the book of Matthew. "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:35-36,40). These passages reinforce the idea that ultimately our allegiance is not to the laws of our current government but instead to a higher power@God. By automatically conforming to what the current policymakers decide it is easy for us to lose sight of God's guidelines. It is important to remember that sometimes the most ethical solution is not the most practical.

Although people from Mexico immigrate to the United States for a number of reasons, the Center for Immigration Studies cites the two main motivators as employment opportunities and family connections. Many immigrants are not content with the existing economic situation in Mexico. Currently the daily minimum wage in Mexico ranges from about 46 to 48 pesos. In American dollars, this amounts to about $4.25. For many Mexican citizens, this daily profit is not enough to sustain and provide for a family. The Center for Immigration Studies also predicts that in the next year, the U.S. government will spend about $1.2 billion on the 700-mile fence along the border with Mexico. Instead of investing such a significant amount of money in protecting our national assets, the United States should use that money to encourage a more practical minimum wage in Mexico and improve its economic system. Doing so would shift our priorities from protection to aid. Perhaps this is an unrealistic ideal, but given the current situation, this action would be the most ethical.

Many Christians still wonder how they can respond to such a significant issue while still staying true to God's teachings. One goal for American citizens as well as the Christian community would be to simply offer respect and generosity to the many illegal immigrants who occupy this country. As a Christian community, we share a fundamental understanding that we should treat the rest of the world with respect and compassion, regardless of racial or cultural background. By focusing solely on our own ways of living, it is easy to develop a very narrow worldview.

Many of our society's misconceptions about immigrants come from a lack of communication, m order to eliminate this confusion, it is crucial for us to learn each other's language and develop relationships in which open communication is possible. By sharing our stories and cultivating a sense of community with immigrants, we are able to move toward healthy relationships that are pleasing to God. As followers of Christ, we are called to reflect the grace that Christ exemplified to us. Hebrews 13:1-3 says, "Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it."

Bibliography

1. The Bible, New International Version. Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995

2. Healy, Gene. "America Should Not Militarize Its Borders," in Margaret Haerens, ed. Illegal Immigration (Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2006), 114" 117.

3. Francis, Sam. "America Should Militarize Its Borders," in Margaret Haerens, ed. Illegal Immigration (Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2006), 108-111.

4. Frieden, Terry. "INS: 7 million illegal immigrants in United States" 26 Oct. 2006. CNN News. 1 Feb. 2003 http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/01/31/illegal.immigration

5. Anon. "Illegal Immigration." 25 Oct. 2006. Center for Immigration Studies. http://www.cis.org/topics/illegalimmigration.html

6. Jacoby, Tamar. "Immigration Nation," Foreign Affairs 85:6 (Nov.-Dec., 2006), 50-66.

7. Miller, S.J. "Illegal Immigrants Harm America's Economy," in Margaret Haerens, ed. Illegal Immigration (Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2006), 58-62.

8. Schafly, Phyllis. "Illegal Immigration Harms Border Communities," in Margaret Haerens, ed. Illegal Immigration (Farmington Hills, MI; Greenhaven Press, 2006), 53-57.