After a deadly shooting of two United States National Guard members near the White House by an Afghan national granted asylum, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services suspended all asylum decisions and paused visa issuance to Afghan passport holders. The Donald Trump administration announced a sweeping immigration crackdown, vowing to “re-examine every single immigrant” admitted from 19 countries of concern and to temporarily halt broader asylum approvals. The crackdown is being framed as a step to protect national security, but many warn it risks punishing entire communities for the actions of one person. How do we balance legitimate concerns for safety with our call as Christians to extend mercy, welcome the foreigner, and uphold justice even when fear and anger push us toward fear-fueled decisions?
What Is Asylum?
I never like to make assumptions, so I want to clarify what asylum is. This is legal protection that is granted by a country to people who are fleeing their home country. The reason they are fleeing is that they face extreme danger or the reality of persecution in their home country, and it is not safe for them to return. The man who committed this deadly shooting was in this country legally, but does that mean we should stop all asylum seekers from these countries of concern? Is this really based on facts or fear and propaganda?
Facts about Immigration and Crime
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." - John 8:32
While this administration has gone to war against illegal immigration, painting immigrants with all kinds of adjectives that I will not repeat, the question remains whether this is a valid concern or just unfounded hysteria. Let me say it more directly. Are your concerns about immigration and safety based on fear or founded in truth?
When you do the research, what you will discover is that there is no evidence that shows that immigrant populations are a greater threat and risk to “national security”, especially when compared to US citizens. In fact, most studies reveal the opposite. Here is a synopsis of a study by the Migration Policy Institute, which confirms what many other studies have found:
-Immigrants have a lower incarceration rate than the native-born population
-They are 60 percent less likely to be incarcerated than the U.S.-born citizens
-US-born citizens were ten times more likely than immigrants to be incarcerated for committing weapons-related offenses
-Five times more likely for violent offenses
-More than twice as likely for property crimes
-Nearly twice as likely for drug offenses
Here is a statement from the study that I believe brings complete clarity.
“At the state level, multiple studies have found there is no clear relationship between violent crime and immigration. And research at the city level suggests that increases in immigration can be associated with declining homicide rates, with the largest effect on municipalities with long histories of immigration, as well as reductions in property crimes and robbery. This makes immigrants less likely to be either offenders or victims of crime at the local level compared to the U.S.-born population.”
While there may be crime issues in our nation, immigrants are not the leading purveyors of those crimes. Will there be bad actors in every group? Of course. This shooter was clearly one of those bad actors. However, with immigrants, this is a case where one bad apple should not spoil the whole bunch.
To fully understand this, it requires you to search for the facts and not just believe the talking heads on television or social media. I would even add, don’t even take my word for it, but approach this like the Bereans did in Acts and discover for yourself what the truth is.
Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. - Acts 17:11
How Should Christians View Immigrants? With the Heart of God.
How should you approach the entire immigrant population, especially if you are a follower of Christ? Before you answer, there are a few truths about immigrants that must inform your answer and should be foundational for those who love and serve Jesus.
1. Immigrants are made in the image of God.
Regardless of where they are born, all immigrants are made in the image of God. This is the only way you should see them. If you don’t, then the problem is not with the immigrant. The Bible tells us for God so loved the world. That world does not comprise of just Americans, but people from every nation on the face of the earth.
2. Immigrants have the same goals and dreams you do.
In the 2023 KFF/LA Times Survey of Immigrants, they identified the goals and dreams immigrants expressed when they come to the United States. Here are the ones at the top of the list:
-Economic and future opportunity
-Better future for their children
-Improved educational opportunities
-Greater rights and freedoms
-To escape unsafe or violent conditions in their home countries
When you consider these dreams, they sound very familiar to the immigrants who came to America as settlers, and they sound very much like you and me today. Your life ambitions, goals, and dreams align with just about every immigrant who comes to this country. This means we are more alike than we are different.
3. Some of these immigrants are your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
To consider another thought, many of those coming to America are fellow believers in Jesus. I know because I know some of them, and their faith and love for Jesus is just as genuine as other believers. Is this the way we want to treat fellow members of the body of Christ?
4. Jesus was an immigrant.
I know we don’t look at Jesus in this light, but remember, Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea. When he was a baby, his parents fled Bethlehem and went to Egypt to escape the murderous rage of a tyrant known as Herod. To save the life of their child, they fled their homeland. My friends, this is the story of many immigrants who have risked their lives to come to this country. Let me ask you, if Jesus was the one crossing the border, would you treat him the same way our nation has treated many in our immigrant population?
What Does it Really Mean to Love Your Neighbor?
In Luke 10 we find the parable of the good Samaritan. A teacher of the law questions Jesus and asks him what he must do to inherit eternal life. Basically, Jesus said, love God and love your neighbor. The Bible then says something interesting about this expert in the law.
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” - Luke 10:29
Jesus then tells him about this Samaritan man who helped a Jewish neighbor who was beaten and robbed and left for dead on the side of the road. Sounds like a nice thing to do until you realize that Jews and Samaritans hated each other. They were enemies with longstanding hatred that survived generations. Yet it was the Samaritan who stopped to help the one who was his enemy and not like him.
This is the question you must ask yourself. Do you care more about the country these people come from than the fact they are made in the image of God and are your neighbor? This means you have an obligation to love them. Even more so if you profess Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.
“Go and Do Likewise”: A Call to Mercy in the Immigration Debate
When I think about this entire immigration issue, there are some questions that come to mind, and I want you to ponder them.
-If we are going to be fair and honest, we must ask is this really about immigration and “national security” or is it about something else?
-Is this about immigrants or the countries these immigrants come from?
Regardless of your answer, you cannot escape the fact that these are your neighbors (regardless of where they come from) and how you think about them, what you say about them, and how you treat them are ultimately painting a picture to the world of who Jesus is. If the world is looking at us to see what Jesus looks like, does your picture look like the Jesus of the Bible or another Jesus?
I know our immigration system needs an overhaul. However, that has nothing to do with how you treat those who are immigrants. After all, what is wrong with showing love, compassion, grace, mercy, and kindness? Before you answer, remember this is what Jesus has shown you. At the end of the story of the good Samaritan, the expert in the law recognized that the one who showed mercy was the neighbor to the man. I will leave you with the words Jesus told this teacher. Go and do likewise.
Photo Credit: Unsplash/Luke Stackpoole
He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose, which helps readers understand how God leads them into his will, and the author of The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has released his first course, Bible Study Basics, to achieve that goal. To learn more about his ministry and resources, please visit clarencehaynes.com.
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