Illegal Immigration

Introductions: Name
Restatement of theme:
- “If this issue was the reason a non-believer gave as their obstacle to Christianity, what would we say to them?”
- Theme verse: “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.” (Matthew 13:19)
Today’s Topic: Illegal Immigration
- Two weeks ago Tuesday, “Cardinal Roger M. Mahony says he would instruct his priests to defy any federal legislation that would require churches to check parishioners for legal status before providing assistance.” (From SignOnSanDiego.com
  - This was said in response to the U.S. House’s approval of H.R. 4437, “Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005”.
  - DailyBreeze.com reports that: “Concerned about a political climate he calls ‘hysterical,’ and worried about a little-known provision in a House-passed bill that would make criminals out of churches that assist illegal immigrants, Cardinal Roger Mahony has a clear message for lawmakers who would try to force him or his priests into not providing assistance to the needy: Bring it on. The Roman Catholic prelate considers that requirement contrary to both Hebrew and Christian scriptures about the importance of caring for aliens and strangers. he says the will instruct hs priests in all 299 parishes in the Los Angeles Archdiocese to defy the statute if the House measure becomes law. The bill expands the definition of ‘smuggling’ to include anyone who ‘assists’ or ‘directs’ an illegal immigrant to remain in the United States.”
  - Read section of the House bill that pertains…
  - Any initial reactions? Would this make Heather a felon?
- Historical items of note (from Wikipeda):
  - 1795 Naturalization Act which restrict citizenship to free white persons who had 5 years of residency
  - 1870 broadened to allow whites and African-Americans, though no Asians could be citizens; otherwise unlimited
  - ban on Asian immigration on and off again from 1868 to 1943
  - There have been some laws on banning people because of health, beliefs, or lack of education.
  - 1921 began a quota system, limiting per country
  - 1965 removed country quotas, replacing with Hemisphere quotas
  - 1986 law created fines for those employing illegal immigrants
- What are some of this issues and concerns with illegal immigration?
  - Their (immigrants) work helps many industries.
  - They take away jobs from American citizens.
  - Avoiding border patrols can be very dangerous and even fatal—those who offer to take people across the border often treat the immigrants very poorly.
  - Drug and other illegal trafficking is often tied in.
  - Tax dollars are used to take care of (to some degree) illegal immigrants.
  - Illegal immigrants can often not get bank accounts, true work authorization, medical help, etc. and often resort to fake IDs.
  - Terrorism concerns.
  - Some think we should have unfettered immigration without restriction.
  - Increased criminal activity is another concern of many—whether exactly caused by illegal immigrants or not.
  - Often, the current US policy is amnesty—not enforcing deportation.
  - The official immigration process is long and expensive—and would often separate families. (It took us about 2 1/2 years and probably well of , although we really didn’t keep track.)
  - Currently, along the border, there are civilians who help “patrol” the border and report illegals to the authorities. They don’t stop anyone or anything—at least, they aren’t supposed to. They call themselves “Minutemen.”
- What does Scripture have to say about illegal immigration?
  - Exodus 22:21-24: “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.”
  - Exodus 23:9: “You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.”
  - Leviticus 23:22: “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”
  - Deuteronomy 10:12-22: “Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.”
  - 1 Peter 2:11: “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”—Peter considered Christians as aliens in this world.
- How do you think the church ought to react, then?

Comment