A Biblical Case for Controlled Immigration

Introduction

Dr. Hillegas believes that immigration control is important for any country, including the United States. Without it, a country can lose its culture, historic, and political identity and may eventually cease to be a country. In this article, he presents biblical principles which are applicable to the question of immigration and in doing so, he makes a case for an immigration policy that is both compassionate and controlled. In it, he poses, discusses, and answers the question, “Is it biblical for a nation to control immigration?”

Dr Hillegas taught and pastored in local churches for twenty-five years. For the last six years, he has been ministering and teaching in Bible Colleges and Seminaries in South America, Eastern Europe, and East Africa.

His article discusses the serious problems that are associated with immigration, presents a biblical view of immigration, suggests what we should do about immigration, assesses the benefits of controlling immigration, and proposes a path for dealing with illegal immigrants who are already in the United States. The focus is primarily on immigration issues associated with the United States’ southern border with Mexico. This presentation was made at Southern Evangelical Seminary’s 2020 Virtual National Conference on Christian Apologetics on October 12, 2020.

Problems Associated with Immigration

Problems associated with immigration include 1) the volume and demographics of people trying to enter, 2) the cost of immigration to the United States, 3) the lack of assimilation, and 4) the crime problem which includes human and drug trafficking.

Problem #1 – Volume and Demographics

A Border Control chart shows that from October 2019 through September 2020, the total number of people who attempted to enter the U.S. from Mexico was 400,000.¹ Another chart, covering roughly the same period, showed that 54,503 persons were inadmissible to the U. S. during this same period and therefore were returned to their own countries. In this group the demographics indicated that there were 599 unaccompanied minor children; 2,556 children under 18 traveling alone; 18,678 family units and 32,670 single adults.² We have to ask, why were these children sent to the U. S. on a dangerous journey with no adult present? And what effect does this have on them?

Problem #2 – The Cost of Immigration

The cost of illegal immigration to U.S. taxpayers is $135 billion annually. The greatest costs to our U.S. citizens are born by those who live in California, Texas and Florida. The estimated cost to California taxpayers, for more than six million illegal immigrants and their children, is more than $23 billion annually. The estimated cost to Texans for the more than four million illegal immigrants and their children is nearly $11 billion annually. The more than two million illegal immigrants and their children cost Florida taxpayers more than $6 billion annually. The rest of the top 10 states reporting the highest cost to taxpayers are New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona and Virginia.³

The number of illegal immigrants in America today is estimated to be about 11 million adults, of whom 350,000 receive Temporary Protective Status, and 730,000 are “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” (DACA) recipients.⁴

The Federation for Immigration Reform (FAIR) states that “Illegal aliens are net consumers of taxpayer-funded services and the limited taxes paid by some segments of the illegal alien population are, in no way, significant enough to offset the growing financial burdens [they] impose on U.S. taxpayers…” The report calculates taxpayer burden by adding total federal, state and local expenditures, compared to total federal, state and local taxes paid by illegal immigrants.⁵

A 2010 Social Security Administration report estimated illegal immigrants paid a total of $13 billion into the fund annually. FAIR calculated that illegal immigrants also contributed $5.9 billion toward Medicare.⁶

FAIR’s examination of federal budget money spent on illegal immigration was about $46 billion, with state budgets spending an estimated $89 billion annually, creating an annual bill of $135 billion. This equates to more than $8,000 per illegal immigrant and dependent, per year. While some illegal immigrants do pay certain taxes,…many employers pay them lower wages, or in cash, and do not deduct their wages from payroll taxes, with most of their income unlikely being reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS),…Due to these varying factors,…the federal, state and local governments are not collecting enough taxes from illegal immigrants to cover the costs of federal benefits they receive.⁷

Problem #3 – Lack of Assimilation

Intentional lack of assimilation: “Most immigrants eligible for naturalization apply to become citizens. However, Mexican lawful immigrants have the lowest naturalization rate overall. Language and personal barriers, lack of interest and financial barriers are among the top reasons for choosing not to naturalize cited by Mexican-born green card holders.”⁸

“Among Mexican lawful immigrants eligible to apply, only 42% had applied for and obtained U.S. citizenship by 2015,…one of the lowest among all immigrant groups when it comes to country of origin.”⁹

Inherent lack of assimilation: “(The) language barrier (and) lack of employment security, have led to instances of exploitation to the point of human slavery. Illegal immigrants are often afraid to call police for help and so are victimized by those who profit from them. Without legal status and employment rights, such as the ability to switch jobs or unionize, illegal immigrants put themselves outside of societal protections.”¹⁰

Common Effects of the lack of assimilation: One result is the translocation of the Mexican or Latin culture into the United States in which the emigrees cling to their native-born identity and culture without having motivation to adapt to the American way of life. A second result is the formation of an underground economy that includes the violation of labor, tax, insurance, and licensing laws. This exposes the emigrees to exploitation and victimization. A third result is a substantial cost to American taxpayers which reduces needed funds for American schools, infrastructure, and social programs.¹¹

Problem #4 – Crime: Human Trafficking

“NYT describes the perils of an El Salvadorian immigrant’s attempt to cross the U.S.-Mexico border with assistance from professional human traffickers whose services cost more than $12,000. Traffickers forced 70 illegal immigrants into a ‘stash home’ in Texas where they deprived the immigrants of food and water for 36 hours.”¹²

“CBP arrested a US national attempting to smuggle an unaccompanied 8 year old alien from Honduras across a checkpoint near Falfurrias, TX.”¹³

“CBP rescued a 6-year-old illegal alien from Costa Rica who had been abandoned by a smuggler near Lukeville, AZ, in temperatures over 100F.”¹⁴

“A recent DOJ partnership with Mexico has resulted in federal prosecution of more than 50 international defendants for various roles in trafficking women and young girls. In 2017, more than 500 defendants were convicted for various human trafficking offenses.”¹⁵
“Young women and girls face extraordinary risk of sexual violence on the journey to the United States. 60-80% of the women and girls who cross Mexico to get to the U.S. border are raped along the way.”¹⁶

“Eight Mexican drug cartel members were convicted for participating in the trafficking of nine women, two minors, and the prostitution of a twelfth woman. The young Mexican and Guatemalan women were recruited on false promises, smuggled into the United States and sold into sex slavery in various states.”¹⁷

Problem #5 – Crime: Drug Trafficking

“Mexican TCOs (Transnational Criminal Organizations) remain the greatest criminal drug threat to the United States; no other groups are currently positioned to challenge them. The Sinaloa Cartel maintains the most expansive footprint in the United States, while the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación or CJNG) has become the second-most dominant domestic presence over the past few years.”¹⁸

Reported Oct. 9, 2020: The second-largest ever bust of its kindalong the southwest border atOtay Mesa Port of Entry, in San Diego,… found in a truck of medical supplies, that pulled into the commercial side of the border crossing.The shipment was unloaded and CPB discovered 1,816 packages co-mingled with the medical supplies. Included in the haul was approximately 3,014 poundsof methamphetamine, 64 poundsof heroin, 29 poundsof fentanyl powder and almost 37 poundsof fentanyl pills, worth an estimated $7.2 million, the official said.¹⁹

A field operations chart shows that over 11 months ending in August 2020 there were 500,710 drug seizures in the U. S. This is a significant number, over a half a million! During this period, the number of seizures for Cocaine was 37,380, for Heroin 4,552, for Marijuana 313,813, for Methamphetamine 141,663, and for Fentanyl 3,302. While these are national statistics, a very large number of these occurred on the Mexican border.²⁰

Biblical Teaching About Immigrants

The Legal–Illegal Distinction: The Old Testament makes a clear distinction between legal and illegal immigrants. A legal immigrant is termed a “sojourner”; an illegal immigrant is referred to as a “foreigner”.

A Sojourner – Legal Status: In Exodus 22:21 the Hebrew word for sojourner is ger. It means a “stranger” who is a “protected citizen.” In Leviticus 25:6 the Hebrew word used for sojourner is toshab¸ which means “resident alien.” This tells us that the sojourner had a legal status in the country while still being an alien. Thus, the sojourner had a legal right to be in Israel, was protected by the law, and had a right to stay.

A Sojourner – Two Categories: The Bible also indicates that sojourners could be categorized in two ways: 1) as temporary visitors without property and 2) as permanent residents who were not full citizens (Leviticus 22:10). Both categories possessed some, but not all, of the rights that full citizens possessed (Deuteronomy 10:19).

A Sojourner – Responsibilities and Regulations: Mosaic Law made it clear that the sojourner had to follow Israelite laws, such as the Sabbath Observance (Deuteronomy 16:9-15). And there were legal distinctions. Deuteronomy 15:3 called for the remission of Israelite debts every seven years, but not for the debt of the legal foreigner. Israelites could extract interest from legal foreigners (Deuteronomy 23:20), and they were excluded from the Passover celebration (Exodus 12:43). Also, Ezra 10:1-44 and Nehemiah 13:23-31 forbade intermarriage.

A Sojourner – Treatment of by Citizens: God makes it clear that sojourners are to be treated fairly and justly. Exodus 23:9 says: “You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt” Leviticus 19:33 reads: “When a stranger, sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong” And, Deuteronomy 10:19 admonishes: “Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt”

We see more specific instructions in Deuteronomy 24:14,15, which reads “Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy…or an alien…. Pay him wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and counting on it.” In the same chapter, verse 17, it reads: “Do not deprive the alien…of justice.” In verses 19-22 God tells Israel to leave grain in the field, olives on the tree and grapes on the vine when harvesting so the poor, widows, orphans and aliens can find food to eat. This is a specific example of what it means to love the alien and to do good to him.

Moreover, aliens were to take part in the festivals of Weeks and of Tabernacles as well as in the First-fruits Offering, thus celebrating and rejoicing with the Israelis in the worship of God (Deuteronomy 16:9-15;26:10-11).

A Sojourner – Summary: The sojourners were legal immigrants, protected by the law, with temporary or permanent status, who enjoyed some but not all of the privileges of full citizenship. They were required to keep the law and observe the regulations which applied to them. They were to be treated fairly, justly, and even with love. The Hebrew word for sojourner occurs 129 times in the Old Testament, indicating that God considered them a distinct category which required specific rules to ensure their integration into Israeli society without injuring or disturbing it.

Legal immigrants were subject to the rules of Israel’s society and to its mores and customs. Israeli society was not expected to change to fit the customs, standards, and practices of the societies from which the immigrant came. The immigrant was expected to adjust to the customs and ways of Israel.

This was especially important since the laws and customs of Israel were given by God to establish a pattern of living a life of worship and obedience to God as well as of righteousness, justice, holiness, kindness and love. To alter the eternal principles of righteous living given by God would mean disobedience to God and incurring God’s punishment. Continuing to keep God’s laws meant continuing to receive his blessing. It was important that Israel’s obedience to and worship of God remained undisturbed by immigrant influence.

A Foreigner: A foreigner (nokri, zar in Hebrew), in contrast to a sojourner, had no legal right to be in Israel, was not protected by law and had no right to stay. He was an illegal immigrant.

[Reference for this entire section:²¹ ]

Biblical Teaching About Borders

In the Old Testament, the nations prioritized protection of their borders and control over whom entered their nation.²² Israel, along with other nations, did this because they wanted to determine who came into their land. An aspect of this control was the construction of walls around cities, such as around Jericho and Jerusalem.

In the New Testament, governments are charged with seeking and protecting the good of their nations (Romans 13:1-7; I Peter 2:13-14). As applied to immigration policy, a nation is called to design and implement immigration policies that bring benefits to their citizens.²³

Romans 13 – God’s Description of Good Governance

Verse 1a: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.” This tells us that everyone must submit himself to government.

Verse 1b: “For, there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Here we learn that God Himself establishes governmental authority. Verse 2a:”Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed.” So then, persons who resist good governmental authority are resisting/fighting against God. Verse 2b: “Those who resist will incur judgment.” God uses government to punish lawlessness and criminality.

Verse 3:”For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval” Whether a person receives punishment or receives approbation from government is dependent on their own behavior.

Verse 4a:”For he is God’s servant for your good.” The purpose of government is to do good to its citizens.

Verse 4b: “But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.” A second warning. Also, a government may use force to maintain order, keep peace, enforce laws, and protect its citizens. Accordingly, a government may punish wrongdoers who break the law.

Verse 5:”Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.” Here we are given two motivations to do what is right: practicality (to avoid punishment) and conscience.

Verses 6 & 7:”For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” Submission to government includes supporting government with taxes, respect, and honor. Everyone is to be responsible toward government.

I Peter 2 – Emphasizes the Same Message

Verses 13 & 14:”Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.”

These passages tell us that God has a plan for good government. Because it is God who sets up governmental authority, everyone under that authority is to submit to the moral laws of government. Government has the power and right to punish criminality as well as to keep the peace, enforce laws, and protect its citizens. The purpose of government is to do good to its citizens. Citizens are to support their government which, in turn, is to support them. This is God’s plan; however actual governments never follow this plan perfectly, and may stray from it exceedingly.

What Should We Do?

Here are my recommendations:

Close (control) the 1,954-mile border with Mexico. We must do this because a porous border is uncontrollable. Also, The US-Mexican border is the number one portal of illegal immigration.

Reform our national immigration policy.

First, we should stop chain migration. Chain migration, also known as “family unification” under federal law, is a legal process by which legal U.S. residents may sponsor family members who live outside the U.S. for immigration to the United states. In order to accomplish this, we should repeal the Hart-Celler Act of 1965, particularly the provision that allows for chain migration. Supporters of such a repeal believe that this provision has been abused, bringing far too many immigrants into the country who are low skilled and who may take jobs from Americans, pose a threat to national security, or be a burden on society. They much prefer moving toward a “merit-based” system that prioritizes bringing in highly educated, English speaking immigrants. The numbers of immigrants who have come in under this provision are: 2.1million in the1950’s; 4.2million in the1970’s; 6.2million in the 1980’s; and 9.7million in the 1990’s. As you can see, the numbers are accelerating rapidly.

Second, we must control whom we allow to immigrate. This is in contrast to and incompatible with Pres. Reagan’s 1986 amnesty for 3 million immigrants, who had arrived prior to 1982.

Third, we should prioritize the immigration of people who will contribute the most to the well-being of the United States.

The Benefits of Controlled Immigration

A reformed immigration policy will facilitate the identification of highly educated and gifted immigrants who will benefit American society and its economy. In 2009, there were eight Nobel prize winners in chemistry, medicine, and physics who were citizens of the United states. Four of these had been immigrants.

A reformed policy should continue to require that naturalized citizens renounce their allegiance and citizenship to/of their native country. (There have been calls to drop this requirement.) The benefits of U.S. citizenship should be available only to those who are willing to pledge allegiance to the United States. This will help build a citizenry committed to the welfare of our country.

Immigration policy should require all immigrants to learn English proficiently. This will enhance the sense of one society and one nation. This is an elemental and necessary part of adapting to and becoming a part of another culture. Having a common language is like a “glue” that helps hold a society together.

Our policy should also allow the U.S. to identify and expand the number of skilled workers who immigrate. This too, will serve us well.

Good immigration policy will allow enforcement of labor law protections on immigrants, who will no longer operate in the shadows.

Reformed policy will disincentivize those who would attempt illegal immigration.

Good immigration policy will also reduce the opportunity for cross-border illegal activity, reducing drug and human trafficking.

What Should We Do With Illegal Immigrants Who Are Already Here?

Deport known criminals.

As of August 2020, there were 450,000 known criminal illegal aliens who were under deportation orders.²⁴

Arrests: “In fiscal year 2018, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested 158,581 aliens, 90% of whom (were criminals). 66% had criminal convictions, 21% had pending criminal charges, and 3% had previously issued final orders. The overall arrest figure represents an 11% increase over FY2017.”²⁵

Removals: “In fiscal year 2018, ERO removed 256,086 illegal aliens, reflecting an increase of 13% over FY2017. The majority of removals (57%) were convicted criminals. Additionally, 5,914 of the removed illegal aliens were classified as either known or suspected gang members or terrorists, which is a 9% increase over FY2017.”²⁶

Implement and require the registration of any immigrant to receive any kind of government-provided service.

Create an actionable but strenuous path to citizenship. The process should be simplified and the steps to citizenship should be achievable.

Churches should live out Romans 13:1, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for, there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

The church is to be obedient to the governing authorities. Current law requires legal immigration, and illegal immigrants are responsible to God to obey the immigration laws of the U.S.

Churches should not hide illegal immigrants. They may feed, clothe, and house them temporarily, but then they must refer them to the immigration authority.

Summary and Conclusion

Problems Associated with Immigration

The current flow of illegal immigrants and their demographics.

The economic burden on U.S. taxpayers.

The lack of assimilation of illegal immigrants.

Illegal immigrants are subjected to the effects of physical and sexual violence, as well as to exploitation in employment. A shadow culture is created which disallows the social and vocational protections of government.

Crime: Human and drug trafficking.

Biblical Teaching

There is a Biblical difference between a sojourner, who has a legal status within the country, and a foreigner, who is without legal status in the country.

Both sojourner and foreigner are to be treated with compassion and respect, but the foreigner is not to be embraced as a sojourner.

Sovereign nations from the earliest times have established, enforced, and protected their borders.

What Should we do?

Close (control) the 1,954 mile border with Mexico.

Reform our national immigration policy.

Benefits of Controlled Immigration

This will give us the ability to identify immigrants who will benefit American society and its economy.

By continuing to require that naturalized citizens renounce their allegiance and citizenship to/of their native country (There have been calls to drop this.), we will help build a naturalized citizenry whose primary allegiance is to our country.

By requiring all immigrants to learn English proficiently, we will enhance the sense of one society and one nation.

We will be able to identify and expand the number of skilled workers who immigrate.

This will allow the enforcement of labor law protections for immigrants.

It will disincentivize those who attempt illegal immigration.

It will reduce the opportunity for cross-border illegal activity, reducing drug and human trafficking.

What Should We Do With Illegal Immigrants Who Are Already Here?

Deport all known criminals.

Require registration of any immigrant to receive any kind of government-provided service.

Create an actionable but strenuous path to citizenship.

Churches should live out Romans 13:1.

Conclusion

Question: Is it Biblical for a nation to control immigration?

Answer: Yes. The Biblical evidence is that a nation, and especially the Church, are both called to treat immigrants or sojourners, with fairness and justice. At the same time, a nation does have the Biblical precedent to establish and enforce its borders while determining who has the legal right to cross its borders.

Epilogue: The Role of the Church

What does the Bible teach about the role of the Christian
Church as it intersects with the State?

Teaching from Romans 13:1-7

Christians should submit to government, because all governmental authority is established by God.

Government, as God designed it, has the role of dispensing justice to evil-doers and the law-abiding alike.

Christians should submit not only in the negative by fear, but also through the positive, by conscience.

Rulers serve God and are to be remunerated.

Teaching from Titus 3:1-2

Our witness should compare favorably against that of unbelievers in submission to authority and God honoring activity.

Teaching from I Peter 2:13-17

Christians honor God by submitting to the government and recognizing its positive role in society.

Apostolic Teaching

Christians should submit to government to attain societal goals of peace and order which will help their efforts in reaching spiritual goals, such as the right to gather to worship and evangelize.

Rulers have power only because God allows them to rule. No ruler, believer or not, is outside of God’s influence.

Christian submission to government does not force us to disregard the tasks which God has given the church to be salt and light, or to disobey His principles of morality

Christian submission to government does not relieve us of our right and responsibility to speak out on moral and spiritual issues in our culture/society.

[Reference for this entire section:²⁷ ]

Introduction

Problems Associated with Immigration

Problem #1 – Volume and Demographics

Problem #2 – The Cost of Immigration

Problem #3 – Lack of Assimilation

Problem #4 – Crime: Human Trafficking

Problem #5 – Crime: Drug Trafficking

Biblical Teaching About Immigrants

Biblical Teaching About Borders

Romans 13 – God’s Description of Good Governance

I Peter 2 – Emphasizes the Same Message

What Should We Do?

The Benefits of Controlled Immigration

What Should We Do With Illegal Immigrants Who Are Already Here?

Summary and Conclusion

Problems Associated with Immigration

Biblical Teaching

What Should we do?

Benefits of Controlled Immigration

What Should We Do With Illegal Immigrants Who Are Already Here?

Conclusion

Epilogue: The Role of the Church

What does the Bible teach about the role of the ChristianChurch as it intersects with the State?

Teaching from Romans 13:1-7

Teaching from Titus 3:1-2

Teaching from I Peter 2:13-17

Apostolic Teaching

What does the Bible teach about the role of the Christian
Church as it intersects with the State?