Immigration & immigrants

Fundamental Tensions: legitimate desires in opposition Economic well-being of citizens vs care for vulnerable foreigners The image of God in all vs a respect for laws Concepts of rule of law vs rule of “man” (to be applied as needed) 1-This is the core tension: in-group vs out-group 2-the immage of God=concern for the immigrant vs respect for law =concern for immigration (People vs Policy) 3-Clash of legal understanding

Fundamental Tensions: legitimate desires in opposition Citizenship (as an ”accident” of birth) vs the universal family of the gospel Hospitality vs saving money Right to work vs right to enforce country borders 4-universal family-Gal 3:28 Jew nor Greek, Slave/Free, Male/Female 6-Fundamental from Eden (2:15) “To work and take care of” the Garden

The word “stranger” is gēr in Hebrew and xenos in Greek The word “stranger” is gēr in Hebrew and xenos in Greek. Here translated as “immigrant,” may also be translated as foreigner, alien, or sojourner. Let’s remind ourselves that this is an old conversation with ample Scriptural Guidance

“If an immigrant dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. The immigrant who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were immigrants in the land of Egypt. (Lev. 19:33-34 NKJV) Just 2 scriptural examples

Abraham, Joseph, Ruth, Mose’s wife were immigrants You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brethren or one of the immigrants who are in your land within your towns. (Deut. 24:14 RSV) Erasing the lines between citizens and immigrants, in terms of how immigrants are treated.

Affirmation 1: Christians care for immigrants Judeo-Christian: Foreigners are included in frequent biblical commands to protect the vulnerable Widows Orphans Poor Foreigners

Affirmation 1: Christians care for immigrants The same law applies both to the native-born and to the foreigner residing among you. Exodus 12:49 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. Deuteronomy 10:18-19 Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns. Deuteronomy 24:14

Christians care for immigrants “Hospes venit, Christus venit,” Xenos Jesus: I was a stranger and you welcomed me. (Mt 25:35) When a Guest comes, Christ comes.

Christians care for immigrants We will respect, protect, assist, evangelize, disciple, and love the immigrants near us! (the Church of the Nazarene)

Christians care for immigrants Hospitality Peter, Paul, and John all urge us to be hospitable (Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 5:10; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9; 3 John 1:8) “Hospitality” is Φιλοξενια (philoxenia) = “Love of Strangers.”

Immigration Subcategories USA has 185 different visas Refugees (involuntary) Asylum seekers Economic migrants Family members Trafficked persons (involuntary) Undocumented persons Visa overstayers Changed visa categories Unauthorized entry

Two Narratives around undocumented We are a country of laws vs We are a country that welcomes the “huddled masses” From Emma Lazarus’ Poem, The New Colossus Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, Send those, the homeless, tempest-tost to me. I lift my lamp beside the the golden door.

Undocumented Workers: A few facts 11.1 million (peak was 2012 with 12.2 million) 52% of the unauthorized immigrants are Mexicans 8 million are in the workforce (5% of the US workforce) But they are 26% of farm workers, & 15% of construction worker

Undocumented Workers: A few facts 66% of undocumented persons are adults & have been in US for at least 10 years. The US is close to full employment 4.7%(Janet Yellen, 1/19/17) In old days after 1 year could become citizen

11 million problems? Common Perceptions They’ve broken the law and must be punished They should get in line They should enter legally (Ellis Island)

They’ve broken the law Entering the country illegally (improper entry) is a misdemeanor. Improper entry is a civil law, not criminal. It is a violation of immigration laws and there is no punishment (only deportation).

They should get in line They should enter legally There is no line for laborers. There is (almost) no legal way for a laborer from Mexico to get a visa to come to the US to work. (69,000 H2B visas were issued in 2015 vs. 7 million workers) Ellis island ceased to function in 1954. (effectively stopped in 1924 by the National Origins Acts). Replaced by a patchwork of rules & policies. The visa requirements are realistically impossible for laborers (H2-A & H2-B): Laborers in Mexico don’t typically have assets, yet... Visa requires documents proving intent to leave the U.S. when your H-2B status expires, (a deed to a house or a lease for an apartment, letters from an employer saying your job will be waiting for you (bank accounts, and pay stubs)).

Steps to getting a ”laborers” visa First the employer must try to hire US workers, demonstrate that they are not available, and receive a “Temporary Labor Certification” from the US government. Then the employer must file a petition for a nonimmigrant worker (Form I-129) The filing fee is $150. It’s a 36 page form that includes data you wouldn’t normally have about employees. For this to work you must have international recruiters. That petition must be approved by the USCIS. With that number in hand the worker may schedule an appointment at an embassy and fill out form DS-160.

Perhaps beside the point, but... Are they a net drain? “Every empirical study of undocumented immigrants economic impact demonstrates that undocumented persons contribute more to public coffers in taxes than they cost in social services.” 2 million work for less than minimum wage (keeping produce costs low) Undocumented workers can’t get food stamps. (But if they have US children they can). Neither can they get Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid, Unemployment, Social Security, Medicare or the Earned Income Tax Credit. They CAN receive emergency medical care and K- 12 school education. Perhaps beside the point because I’m making an moral argument, not an economic argument. *Above from The Taxation of Undocumented Immigrants in the Harvard Latino Law Review (2006).

Note: You will find very different Financial analysis and conclusions by 3 linked groups: -”Center for Immigration Studies” -FAIR (Federation for American Immigration Reform) -NumbersUSA These are “nativist” non-profits all founded by John Tanton. Their methodologies and assumptions are widely disputed by others.

The Failed Solution Senate bill S. 744 of 2013 proposed a 13-year path to citizenship for those who are here. Co-sponsored by the bi-partisan “Gang of Eight.”(including John McCain, Marco Rubio & Lindsey Graham) S. 744 proposed a “Blue Card” for agricultural workers who have been in the US at least 5 years. S.744 proposed a W-visa: a guest worker program (also proposed in 2006, 2007, and 2012) so there could be a legal pathway for temporary workers (i.e. the Bracero program that operated in the US from 1942 To 1964). S.744 was approved by the senate but the house refused to consider it after encountering conservative opposition and it died a slow death.

Our Kingdom Citizenship We differentiate between what is legal/illegal and what is morally right/wrong. Even where prostitution is legal, it is morally wrong. We have a country with laws that don’t align with Kingdom values (abortion, same-sex marriage) The conflict of values means we have to discern relative importance. That is, Christians don’t just say, “it’s the law therefore it’s right.” We follow the laws of the Kingdom of God.

We submit to the government (even when we oppose it) Peter & Paul both call for submission to the state (I Peter 2:13-14 & Romans 13:1-2) Yet they both disobeyed the government and went to jail/death in consequence Christians oppose unjust laws (slavery, limited suffrage, racial discrimination, public executions, abortion) Christians are willing to be punished for our disobedience end

Jesus: “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was an immigrant and you invited me in.” (Matt 25:35 NIV)