Does the Bible say anything about what to do about illegal immigrants?

Answer 1

Yes. When considering what to think or do about how the U.S. is dealing with the problems of Immigration, people of faith can consider a number of texts from both the Hebrew and the Christian Scriptures:

Leviticus 19:33

When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. 34 The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God. (New International Version)

Exodus 23:9

Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt. (New International Version)

Matthew 25: 37 - 40

Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. (New International Version)

Answer:

The key word here is "illegal": "...against law: contravening a specific law, especially a criminal law."

God's Word says: "...SIN IS the TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW." (I John 3:4)

A transgression is the "breaking of the law"... it's going "against the law."

There are more than enough "laws" on the books to have dealt with "illegal" immigrants in the beginning... if they would have been enforced from the beginning, that is. Decisively and consistently.

The "laws of the land," however, are being forfeited for the sake of "cheap labor" for one thing. It's just "good business." It's not good policy... but it is a money-saving tool in a world of slipshod and cut-throat business practices.

Also, a political reason can be for the sake of a future "amnesty" that would probably reap for political incumbents a powerful voting bloc of new grateful and "suddenly legal" voters.

In the end... The Bible says to "OBEY THE LAW."

In accordance with biblical priority... illegal immigration is but a symptom of a greater out-of-control tragedy. And that is a lawless nation that forsook the God who gave it its blessings and greatness and prosperity. A modern nation whose government thinks that "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is ITS endowment upon men... not God's.

Where does one start to clean up such a moral nationwide catastrophe - where its government ignores its own laws... allows illegal non-citizens to roam free throughout the land with all the rights and benefits of a "legal" citizen... yet, expects its true citizens [natural and naturalized] to obey the law... AND foot the bill for its sins?

What does the Bible say about what to do about this one symptom of illegal immigration? The same thing it says regarding all our other national sins.

It says: "...Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities[SIN - LAW BREAKING] have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoke lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things.

"No one calls for justice... they conceive trouble and give birth to evil... Their feet rush to sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood [abortion?]. Their thoughts are evil thoughts [see Gen.6:5]; ruin and destruction mark their ways. The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths... So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows...

"...We all growl like bears; we moan mournfully like doves. We look for justice, but find none; for deliverance, but it is far away.

"For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: rebellion and treachery against the LORD, turning our backs on our God, fomenting oppression and revolt, uttering lies our hearts have conceived...

"Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice... According to what they have done, so will He repay wrath to His enemies and retribution to His foes..." (Isa.59:1-18 NIV).

The Bible commands this nation to "repent" of its ways... and to turn to God in love and obedience to its Creator... and in love and respect for His laws... and one another. But, this lawless nation will not do that. How can it obey the laws of God, when it refuses to obey its own laws?

The nation is too divided and self-serving to comply with the justice and righteousness [law-keeping] of God... even if it knew about it. We are no longer all "Americans." Today, we are "African-Americans"... "Chinese-Americans"... "Latin-Americans"... "Arab-Americans." America is DIVIDED - not UNITED.

Therefore... the only thing to be done, according to the Bible, is to let our sins run their course... and let them teach us what it takes to destroy a nation.

"Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the LORD your God and have no awe of Me...

"...I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against Me into a corrupt, wild vine?

"...They have turned their backs to Me and not their faces; yet when they are in trouble, they say, 'Come and save us!' Where then are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them come if they can save you when you are in trouble! For you have as many gods as you have towns... [O America]...

"...In vain I punished your people [9/11? Hurricane Katrina?]; they did not respond to correction... (Jer.2:19-30 NIV).

The Bible doesn't tell us what to do with "illegal" immigrants. It tells us what illegal immigrants, and all other who hate us are going to do with us:

"...For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am about to hand you over to those you hate, to those you turned away from in disgust. They will deal with you in hatred and TAKE AWAY EVERYTHING YOU HAVE WORKED FOR... Your lewdness and promiscuity have brought this upon you, because you lusted after the nations and defiled yourself with their idols...

"...Since you have forgotten Me and thrust Me behind your back, you must bear the consequences of your lewdness and prostitution...

"...Bring a mob against them and give them over to terrorand plunder. The mob will stone them and cut them down with their swords; they will kill their sons and daughters and burn down their houses... Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD." (Ezek.23:28-49 NIV)

This nation and the world is headed into the Great Tribulation, prophesied in the Bible. And the forsaking of God by this nation is the first thing America needs to correct. Not one of its festering symptoms.