The issue of immigration is one for which there is much misunderstanding. Over the last 30+ years, the topic of immigration has taken many shapes. It began as a migrant worker environment, where workers came to the US for seasonal work and either returned to their country or moved to another location, working the fields to send money back home to their family.
Today we have entire families who have settled throughout the country, who are working, raising their families, and seeking every day to have a better life than what they had back home. In reality, the US is more their home than their country of origin. Even though many years have passed, most of these immigrants are still undocumented.
Many live in fear of deportation. They all understand now that laws that were overlooked years ago are viewed very differently. 20+ years ago all they needed to receive a driver’s license was a permanent address. Today they need a valid Social Security number. Therefore their license that they received legally has now expired. Something as simple as driving to work, or to church, or to pick up children from school now causes them to think very carefully about the risks they are taking.
In spite of the fact that political solutions are slow in coming, there is no excuse for followers of Christ to not be ready and willing to respond from a strong biblical and spiritual foundation.
The Micah Movement is proud to stand with our brothers and sisters in Christ and value their unique culture and tremendous gifts that they bring, regardless of their immigration status.
We simply cannot allow one’s immigration status to stand between their need of the gospel and our opportunity to be a blessing to their lives. We pray for reform and we advocate for justice, but we live out the mercy of Jesus Christ that compels us to love.
Click here for a list of frequently asked questions for leaders who are grappling with concerns and questions about immigration and serving the immigrants in our communities. Our hope is that this becomes a first step in answering basic questions: FAQs on Immigration.
CARING FOR IMMIGRANTS
Immigration is an issue, but immigrants are people. We care about what our governments do, but in the end we must follow the call of Christ to love people and extend our hospitality and grace to them in our churches and communities. Below you will find several resources for you as you reach out to the immigrants in your community with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Immigration Hotline
World Relief has provided a hotline legal counsel on specific issues of immigration law. A hotline is available at 443.451.1978 or by e-mail at religiousworker@wr.org. The phone consultation can take place in English or Spanish.
Advocating for Immigration Reform
We affirm the following “Evangelical Statement of Principles for Immigration Reform” written by the Evangelical Immigration Table:
Our national immigration laws have created a moral, economic and political crisis in America. Initiatives to remedy this crisis have led to polarization and name calling in which opponents have misrepresented each other’s positions as open borders and amnesty versus deportations of millions.
This false choice has led to an unacceptable political stalemate at the federal level at a tragic human cost. We urge our nation’s leaders to work together with the American people to pass immigration reform that embodies these key principles and that will make our nation proud. As evangelical Christian leaders, we call for a bipartisan solution on immigration that:
- Respects the God-given dignity of every person
- Protects the unity of the immediate family
- Respects the rule of law
- Guarantees secure national borders
- Ensures fairness to taxpayers
- Establishes a path toward legal status and/or citizenship for those who qualify and who wish to become permanent residents—especially Dreamers (DACA)