Human migration has been with us from the beginning, sometimes voluntarily (determination), sometimes not (displacement). Individuals to entire populations, from a few miles to across the globe, at times assimilating, at times conquering, the movement of people has always had some level of historic impact.
From a biblical worldview, the first “migration” was a displacement. Adam and Eve’s decision to reject God’s instructions resulted in banishment from the Garden of Eden:
“So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and He sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which He had been made. After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And He placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life” (Genesis 3:23-24).
There are many other key migrations in Scripture. Abram (later Abraham) was called by God to leave Mesopotamia for Canaan, and there the Israelites were established (Genesis 12:1-9); Joseph (son of Jacob) was sent into slavery in Egypt (Genesis 37:18-36) and subsequently the Israelites were placed in bondage; the Israelites were released from their bondage to return home to Canaan (the Book of Exodus); the Israelites were sent into exile in Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:10-20); Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Egypt to escape Herod’s decree that all firstborn Jewish males be killed (to eliminate the possibility of a Jewish king), etc. Of course, in addition to their historical significance, there is a theological importance to each of these movements.
Migrations worldwide continue, affecting cultures, economies, politics, languages, the environment, and history itself.
The United States is a product of migration.
Beginning with the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony in 1620, who fled religious persecution in England, to the English colonists and settlers who eventually formed the 13 British Colonies, to the Revolutionary War and Declaration of Independence that officially formed the United States of America. Although not a “nation of immigrants” (only 15.5% of the U.S. population is foreign-born), we are a nation largely founded by immigrants. And immigrants continue to substantially impact our success, from reliable workers and small business owners to researchers, inventors, and titans of industry. Immigration is part of our DNA.
The original thirteen colonies largely acted independently of one another in matters of commerce, politics, and immigration.[1] Yet with the Continental Congress of 1774, the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and the subsequent Revolutionary War, a nation was formed that would require cohesive laws, including immigration. This process began with the Constitution giving Congress the authority to “establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization”[2] to establish rules and coherent means for people to become citizens with all the rights and privileges thereof, from taxation to voting rights. According to legal scholars:
“These naturalization laws have generally applied to three main categories of aliens: (1) those who have resided in the United States for certain periods of time and applied for naturalization; (2) those born abroad to U.S. citizen parents; and (3) those who derived citizenship after their parents naturalized in the United States.”[3]
In addition to a legal naturalization process, geographic border protection became necessary. in 1789, the U.S. Customs Service was established, which focused primarily on collecting import tariff fees and eventually physical border security. In 1790, Congress passed laws defining and restricting immigration into the U.S. Over the ensuing years, additional legislation to address immigration and border security would be enacted, with politicians often using immigration as fodder for their political ideology and personal gains, subsequently keeping the immigration system “broken” for more than a generation.
The salient point here is that the United States is a sovereign nation, defined as “a political entity that has complete autonomy and self-determination over its internal and external affairs.” Such self-determination can only be accomplished through the definition and establishment of citizenship—“a unique bond that unites people around civic ideals and a belief in the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.”[4]Citizenship is vital to the well-being of a sovereign nation, as it fosters both civic duties and protections for those in alliance with the moral and political ethos of that nation.
Those who maintain the fanciful notion that nations should not have borders or legal processes to establish citizenship, who believe we can simply all “get along”—often referred to as imagined communities—are students of neither history nor human behavior. While many, including me, agree with the sentiment of Emma Lazarus’ poem inside the Statue of Liberty (“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”),[5] the attacks of 9/11 changed everything. We can no longer afford to view immigrants as “huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” but now must admit that among the huddled masses are evil folks bent on destroying our values, people, and even our nation.
Striking a balance between welcoming immigrants and protecting the values of freedom and justice that make our society desirable is not easy. The desire to form, foster, and protect communities based on common traits and interests is intrinsically human, as seen through thousands of years of tribalism (extreme loyalty to a particular group), nativism (promoting or protecting the interests of native-born or indigenous people over those of immigrants), and sometimes xenophobia (prejudice against people from different countries, cultures, or religions). Some people groups historically believe themselves to be superior to others (ethnocentrism), resulting in conflicts and even the erasure of indigenous civilizations.[6] Still, the United States has, generally, been welcoming to those seeking “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
It’s objectively true that since its inception, citizenship in the United States has been a goal for millions of people worldwide. Here, one wonders why, if the U.S. is, as Leftists would have us believe, a systemically racist, homophobic, unfair, unjust, anti-immigrant nation, why so many would risk their lives to be here. All that is asked of immigrants is that they follow U.S. immigration laws to be part of a law-abiding citizenry.
The process of Naturalization, the primary pathway to citizenship,[7] seems straightforward—but it’s not, and that’s the problem. There are plenty of online resources that attempt to explain the penchant for illegal immigration,[8] but it often boils down to the complexity of the process. This is not an excuse for illegal immigration, but it is a glaring reminder that for many, many decades, our immigration system has been “broken.”
Attempts to address the immigration system have largely failed, and the pendulum has swung from tightly monitored borders and mass deportations (President Obama, President Trump) to “open” borders and mass amnesty for illegal immigrants (President Biden and President Reagan, respectively).
How should a biblical Christian respond to all this?
In a biblical worldview, there are two primary pillars upon which we respond to immigrants and immigration in general:
- Welcome “strangers” and treat them well. (Exodus 22:21, 23:9; Leviticus 19:33-34; Deuteronomy 10:19; Matthew 25:35; Hebrews 13:2)
- Submit to earthly authority. (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17)
Let’s dig into each of these.
“Welcome ‘strangers’ and treat them well.” Old Testament passages use the Hebrew term גֵּר (ger) to describe “strangers.” In context, a ger was a resident alien who had left their homeland and was living among the Israelites, often grouped with other vulnerable members of society, such as widows and orphans. They were allowed to participate in some aspects of Jewish religious life but were restricted from others unless they converted to Judaism. The admonition from the Lord to treat the ger kindly was a reminder to Israel of their own 400-year sojourn in Egypt.
New Testament passages regarding the treatment of “strangers,” such as Matthew 25:35 and Hebrews 13:2, offer a decidedly spiritual perspective. For example, in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25), although the term “stranger” is only implied, Jesus explains that when we care for those in need, we show care for Him (Jesus), and when we neglect those in need, we neglect Him. In the original Greek of Hebrews 13:2, the phrase “hospitality to strangers” is rendered as one word, φιλοξενίας (philoxenia):
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
That a migrant from another land, desiring only to be a constructive part of our society, could be an angel of the Lord is, at the very least, thought-provoking. While this is not justification for illegal immigration, it remains fundamental to a biblical worldview. However, there should be a distinction between “strangers” who want to live peacefully among us and contribute constructively to our society and those who seek to harm us. The American sentiment, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” must now coexist in a post-9/11 world.
“Submit to earthly authority.” The Bible explicitly instructs biblical Christians to submit to earthly authority and its laws, for “…he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves” (Romans 13:2). God established earthly authority to maintain an orderly, just, and peaceful society. The original Greek term for “submit” (ὑποτάσσω—hupotassó) means to “place oneself under another’s rank.” Since all authority comes from God (Hebrews 11:1), we ultimately submit to Him when we submit to earthly authority. We also see this “system of authority” in God’s plan for marriage (Ephesians 5:22-24), the Church (Ephesians 5:21; 1 Peter 5:5; Hebrews 13:17), and our personal relationship with Him (Luke 22:42; John 14:15; James 4:7; 1 John 5:3)
Does God “sanction” ungodly authority on earth?
A better understanding of the relationship between God and earthly authority is that He allows ungodly authority to exist. Consider the fact that Satan has been given authority on earth until the return of Christ (cf. Luke 4:6; John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2), and God uses ungodly authority to direct, and sometimes punish, His people (cf. 2 Kings 20:17-18; Isaiah 13:19, 14:4, et al). Consider also the New Testament admonitions to submit to earthly authority, written under the reign of despicable Roman Emperors such as Nero who routinely persecuted and killed Christians. In this context, we see Jesus modeling such submission:
“Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap Him [Jesus] in His words. They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we know that You are a man of integrity and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because You pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is Your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?’ But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, ‘You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap Me? Show Me the coin used for paying the tax.’ They brought Him a denarius, and He asked them, ‘Whose image is this? And whose inscription?’ ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied. Then He said to them, ‘So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s’” (Matthew 22:15-21).
Jesus paid, and exhorted His followers to pay, taxes to the very earthly authority that would eventually torture and kill Him. Here we must understand and embrace the biblical truth of Romans 8:28:
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”
Will we in this lifetime ever fully understand God’s ways in this regard? No. But biblical truth reinforces that the laws of this land, including immigration laws, must be followed. There is only one example of Jesus’ disciples NOT submitting to earthly authority. Having been jailed and warned not to “speak or teach in the name of Jesus,” Peter and John respond:
“Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to Him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:1-20).
Earthly authority cannot force us to believe or behave in an ungodly manner or silence the preaching of the Gospel. The immigration laws of the United States, although imperfect, are hardly ungodly—in fact, they are designed to welcome immigrants who desire to contribute constructively to American society and values while protecting citizens from those who seek to do them harm. As biblical Christians, we must maintain the ethos of caring for the downtrodden while concomitantly following, and urging others to follow, the laws set before us.
To justify immigrants entering our country illegally, some employ the “hiding Jews from Nazis” argument—that it’s okay to break man-made laws for the greater moral good. This philosophy stems, in part, from the conviction that we should be more accommodating to those fleeing persecution, famine, or even death; that our immigration laws inhibit or prohibit such care and therefore should be ignored. This is a false equivalence argument, as U.S. immigration laws, particularly asylum applications,[9] are not designed to exterminate but to protect people, both citizens and immigrants, which begs the question:
Why DO so many immigrants enter the U.S. illegally?
Wading through a sea of information and opinion on the matter, the simple reason is that it’s easier to “hop the border” or overstay a visa than go through the legal and admittedly complex process of immigration and naturalization. The three main pathways to immigrate legally into the U.S. are work sponsorship from a U.S. company, family connection to U.S. citizen(s), or refugee protection, each of which has very specific requirements. But does the fact that it’s “hard” justify entering the U.S. illegally? I don’t believe so; however, in the minds of those fleeing their circumstances (whatever those may be), it is, and U.S. citizens pay the price in lower wages, higher taxes, increased housing costs, and in some cases, unsafe environments.[10] The financial burden of illegal immigration to U.S. taxpayers is estimated at over $150 billion annually.[11]
In summary, a biblical worldview regarding immigration into the U.S. is to have compassion on those seeking a better life, who do not want to do us harm, and to engage the political system to make such immigration as streamlined and just as possible; asserting that compassion for the “stranger,” and safety for our citizens, are not mutually exclusive.
To this end, may the Lord be glorified, and may we as a nation prudently keep our commitment so eloquently expressed by Emma Lazarus’ poem: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
[1] There were attempts to unite the colonies under British Rule (for purposes of a common defense, westward expansion of territory and subsequent relations with native Americans), such as the Albany Plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754. It was never officially adopted.
[2] “The act of adopting a foreigner and clothing him with the privileges of a native citizen’’ via Article I, Section 8, Clause 4 of the U.S. Constitution.
[3] https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C4-1-1/ALDE_00013160/
[4] https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learn-about-citizenship/citizenship-and-naturalization.
[5] “The New Colossus,” written in 1883, was donated in 1903 by Lazarus to help the “Art Loan Fund Exhibition in Aid of the Bartholdi Pedestal Fund for the Statue of Liberty,” whereby it was cast in bronze and set inside the base of the statue.
[6] This is true of the ancient Romans and Greeks, the Mongolians of the 13th century, Europeans of the 14th – 19th centuries, the North Americans of the 17th – 21st centuries, the Japanese and Nazis of the 20th century, etc.
[7] https://www.usa.gov/become-us-citizen.
[8] https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/immigration/whydonttheycomeherelegally; https://www.cato.org/policy-analysis/why-legal-immigration-nearly-impossible; https://www.fosterglobal.com/blog/explainer-why-cant-immigrants-here-illegally-just-apply-for-citizenship/; https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/16/texas-legal-immigration-citizenship-colombia/; https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/07/22/what-we-know-about-unauthorized-immigrants-living-in-the-us/
[9] https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum.
[10] https://budget.house.gov/imo/media/doc/the_cost_of_illegal_immigration_to_taxpayers.pdf; https://nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/the-cost-of-illegal-immigration
[11] https://budget.house.gov/press-release/the-cost-of-the-border-crisis-1507-billion-and-counting.
Pondering 