Bridges and Walls: The Christian Response to Immigration and Refugees
As Christians we have two moral duties when it comes to welcoming the stranger. We have an obligation to do both because practicing one without the other can be irresponsible and can lead to reckless endangerment of innocent people.
We have a moral duty to welcome's the foreigner out of charity and respect for human persons and at the same time we also have moral duty to secure borders and enforce the rule of law for the sake of the common good. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains these duties as well as the obligations off immigrants:
“We have a moral duty to welcome the foreigner out of charity and respect for the human person. Persons have the right to immigrate and thus government must accommodate this right to the greatest extent possible, especially financially blessed nations: “The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.
We also have a second duty “to secure one’s border and enforce the law for the sake of the common good. Sovereign nations have the right to enforce their laws and all persons must respect the legitimate exercise of this right: “Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.”
Sometimes Walls Are More Merciful than Bridges
Contrary to the rhetoric surrounding securing our borders, there’s nothing inherently wrong about a wall. In fact, sometimes walls are the most merciful thing to have. There is a time for walls and there is a time for bridges. Its how they are each used, not their existence, that determines whether they are moral or immoral.
Sometimes walls are more merciful than bridges because they protect the common good and protect the innocent from danger or from enemies. A fence that keeps children or animals from wandering onto a highway protects them from danger. A locked door is a precaution against those who would do harm.
“Just as you can assume that the poor will always be with you, you can assume that, human nature being what it is, you will always need to take precautions against enemies. ”
Remember this guy who swore on his (non-existent) children’s lives that he just wanted food because he hadn’t eaten in a week?
This type of deception is occurring at our borders at increased rates by criminals who are far more dangerous than this thief. It is naive to think that everyone who attempts to cross our border is needy or innocent. William Kilpatrick points out that and that naivety can lead to reckless endangerment.
Children “are indeed being kidnapped or borrowed by illegal immigrants trying to pose as families, according to Homeland Security numbers, which show the U.S. is on pace for more than 400 such attempts this year. That would be a staggering 900 percent increase over 2017’s total”. Eye-popping Surge of Illegal Immigrants Abducting Children
“Take the case of the British foster mother who discovered that the 12-year-old Afghan refugee orphan she cared for was actually 21 years old. A dental check revealed that the "boy" who shared a room with three of the woman's children was approximately a decade older than he had claimed. Moreover, a subsequent investigation found Taliban and child abuse material on his cell phone. His last words to the mother were "I'll kill you and I know where your children are."
This is not an isolated incident. Last year, of 574 "child" refugees whose age was called into question, 371 were found to be adults.”-When Walls are More Merciful than Bridges
” Pope Francis declared Friday that “every country has the right to control its borders,” especially where the risk of terrorism exists.”
“In several places, the Bible acknowledges the importance of walls. In the Book of Revelation, the Holy City of Jerusalem is described as being surrounded with “a great, high wall” (Rev 21: 12). And in Isaiah, the Lord says:
Upon your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen.
Why do you need watchmen? To keep an eye out for enemies, of course. The Old Testament authors took the existence of enemies for granted. So did Jesus. He mentions enemies on several occasions. Moreover, in the parable of the householder and the thieves, he acknowledges the legitimacy of defending one’s house against break-ins (Mt 24: 43).
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.“The U.S. Catholic Bishops accept the legitimate role of the U.S. government in intercepting unauthorized migrants who attempt to travel to the United States. The Bishops also believe that by increasing lawful means for migrants to enter, live, and work in the United States, law enforcement will be better able to focus upon those who truly threaten public safety: drug and human traffickers, smugglers, and would‐be terrorists. Any enforcement measures must be targeted, proportional, and humane.”
But comprehensive immigration reform need to carries out both moral duties! These are examples of how to fulfill both:
Earned Legalization: An earned legalization program would allow foreign nationals of good moral character who are living in the United States to apply to adjust their status to obtain lawful permanent residence.
Future Worker Program: A worker program to permit foreign‐born workers to enter the country safely and legally would help reduce illegal immigration and the loss of life in the American desert. Any program should include workplace protections, living wage levels, safeguards against the displacement of U.S. workers, and family unity.
Family‐based Immigration Reform: It currently takes years for family members to be reunited through the family‐based legal immigration system. This leads to family breakdown and, in some cases, illegal immigration. Changes in family‐based immigration should be made to increase the number of family visas available and reduce family reunification waiting times.
Restoration of Due Process Rights: Due process rights taken away by the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) should be restored. For example, the three and ten year bars to reentry should be eliminated.
Addressing Root Causes: Congress should examine the root causes of migration, such as under‐development and poverty in sending countries, and seek long‐term solutions. The antidote to the problem of illegal immigration is sustainable economic development in sending countries. In an ideal world, migration should be driven by choice, not necessity.
Enforcement: The U.S. Catholic Bishops accept the legitimate role of the U.S. government in intercepting unauthorized migrants who attempt to travel to the United States. The Bishops also believe that by increasing lawful means for migrants to enter, live, and work in the United States, law enforcement will be better able to focus upon those who truly threaten public safety: drug and human traffickers, smugglers, and would‐be terrorists. Any enforcement measures must be targeted, proportional, and humane.-U.S. Catholic Bishops
While the media has fueled hysteria by falsely claiming that President Trump’s Executive Order is a “Muslim ban”, some of the fear can be attributed to poor communication about the Order as pointed out in Persons first: Refugees, Immigrants and Executive Orders
Archbishop Jose H. Gomez points out that “We all agree that our nation has the obligation to secure its borders and establish criteria for who is permitted to enter and how long they are permitted to stay. In a post-9/11 world, we all agree there are people both inside and outside our borders who want to hurt us. We share a common concern for our nation’s security and the safety of our loved ones. That does not make these orders less troubling. Halting admissions of refugees for 90 or 120 days may not seem like a long time. But for a family fleeing a war-torn nation, or the violence of drug cartels, or warlords who force even children into armies — this could mean the difference between life and death.”
Truth that matters in our response to suffering people. The truth is that there are refugees who desperately need help and justice and there are refugees that intend harm. The suffering is real for refugees in crisis and for people who have been harmed and killed by militant refugees. Let’s ask ourselves hard questions.
Do we only care about refugees when they fit our political agenda or are we giving our money and/or our time to organizations that serve their needs like this?
Do our political beliefs consider how to provide true justice and compassion for foreigners, refugees, orphans and widows while also fulfilling the obligation project the common good?
These are questions I have asked myself and I encourage other Christians to do the same. I welcome respectful dialogue. We can learn from each other and challenge each other in finding the best ways to “welcome the foreigner”.
If we only care about refugees who are suffering and not the people who have been harmed by militant refugees, we’ve got it wrong.
If we turn away people in need based solely on fear, we’ve got it wrong.
If we insist that we take on more refugees than our country can handle, we’ve got it wrong.
If we pontificate about the good that we should be doing and don’t do it, we’ve got it wrong.
Charity, justice and respect for human persons requires bridges sometimes and walls other times. The wise will seek to know the difference.