Is Enforcing Immigration Laws being "Un Christ Like?"

[JesusFan]

As has been alleged by some on the "Christian left?"

 

[Ruiz]

As has been alleged by some on the "Christian left?"

It depends on how you enforce immigration law. I think some of the methods are nothing more than an attack on the Constitution. Other methods are extremely hateful. As well, our policies on immigration should be revisited as steal the best of other countries leaving them worse off while keeping out the least.

 

[preachinjesus]

Sometimes.

Immigrants are often the recipients of a new form of racism. And how we treat them is often a sad example of a once free and welcoming people.

I roll my eyes when I hear so-called "family values" conservatives who champion rights of traditional families (which is good) but then advocate for the separation and destruction of families whose parents are less than legal. And all of it because of a law passed in 1978 that labeled them as such.

Immigration is messy, but we are all immigrants.

We, Christians, need to see everyone, including the immigrant, as having value and aid them with love and care.

 

[Salty]

Immigrants are often the recipients of a new form of racism .

What? So if the US was to prohibit Canadians from crossing the border, would that be racism? (keep in mind those in Canada are Caucasian.

And how we treat them is often a sad example of a once free and welcoming people. .

There is a big difference from current illegal immigration and immigrants in the 19 & early 20 century. First, those who came were legal. Second when immigrants did come, they assimilated into the culture of the US. (eg language) Third - there was not the social give-a-way programs. The old principal was in force - "You don't work - you don't eat"

I have no problem with folks coming into the country - but not at our financial expense.

I roll my eyes when I hear so-called "family values" conservatives who champion rights of traditional families (which is good) but then advocate for the separation and destruction of families whose parents are less than legal. And all of it because of a law passed in 1978 that labeled them as such.

The US Govt does not separate families. They do it to themselves.

Thats like saying, the govt separated a man from his family by putting him in jail after he robbed a bank. The truth is, if the man had not robbed the bank, he never would have went to jail.

 

[HAMel]

How can it be wrong to enforce our immigration laws? We are a nation of laws and borders.

Go to Mexico and get a job, get caught and you'll do two years without parole. The Mexican Government has turned their country over to the Drug Cartels and as such, are reaping precisely what they sowed.

It's not un-Christian in the slightest to refuse aid to those who crash our borders.

 

[Arbo]

I roll my eyes when I hear so-called "family values" conservatives who champion rights of traditional families (which is good) but then advocate for the separation and destruction of families whose parents are less than legal.

And I roll my eyes at bleeding heart liberals who approve of the actions of those who don't play by the rules and call themselves victims.

My family were immigrants and they came legally.

 

[preachinjesus]

What? So if the US was to prohibit Canadians from crossing the border, would that be racism? (keep in mind those in Canada are Caucasian.

Notice I didn't say "all immigrants" and usually Caucasian immigrants get lax treatment. It is the minority, Hispanics, Arabs, Asians, etc who are discrimminated against.

I have no problem with folks coming into the country - but not at our financial expense.

Ironically the only reason there is a financial expense is because of legal definition put in place in a law from 1978. They hide in a society where they do the most basic jobs. They bring financial cost primarily because they are shut out of most social systems and have to operate outside of normal channels.

The US Govt does not separate families. They do it to themselves.

I disagree. They are separated because of a legal definition from a law that, if Congress desired, could be changed with a pen stroke.

That is the insanity of the situation.

Thats like saying, the govt separated a man from his family by putting him in jail after he robbed a bank. The truth is, if the man had not robbed the bank, he never would have went to jail.

Listen, I'm not making excuses for illegal immigrants. In the outreach, care, and Hispanic ministries of our church we will take care of any who come and ask. When we find out their status is not legal we let them know that it is their Christian obligation to return to their home counties. Our obligation to them, to all people, is to care for them and share the Gospel with them. We aren't the police.

 

[preachinjesus]

Go to Mexico and get a job, get caught and you'll do two years without parole. The Mexican Government has turned their country over to the Drug Cartels and as such, are reaping precisely what they sowed.

They can't. You see this is the craziness of this whole conversation. Most people have never seen the conditions these people come from. We make grandious statements about their lives without ever having encountered them. Do you really think people want to make the thousand mile trek to come here? Do you think they want to hide in their communities? Do you think they want to forage for work, taking sub-minimum wages?

It's not un-Christian in the slightest to refuse aid to those who crash our borders.

Wow. I can't really engage with that kind of thinking. It is really sad.

 

[preachinjesus]

My family were immigrants and they came legally.

As were mine, several of whom came over on the Mayflower. Several who were here when they got here.

Yet many of our familial ancestors also have a nasty habit of taking what isn't theirs and forcing their prejudicial views on the rest of the public. I reject that notion.

 

[Mexdeaf]

No, not at all.

 

[Arbo]

As were mine, several of whom came over on the Mayflower. Several who were here when they got here.

I was not aware there were immigration laws in north america at that time.

Yet many of our familial ancestors also have a nasty habit of taking what isn't theirs and forcing their prejudicial views on the rest of the public. I reject that notion.

Familial ancestors as thieves and bigots? Now that's prejudicial.

 

[HAMel]

They can't. You see this is the craziness of this whole conversation. Most people have never seen the conditions these people come from. We make grandious statements about their lives without ever having encountered them. Do you really think people want to make the thousand mile trek to come here? Do you think they want to hide in their communities? Do you think they want to forage for work, taking sub-minimum wages?

A few years ago I listened to a sermon on the radio by (can't remember his name but) a faithful man of God (I'm thinking perhaps Oliver Green) who preached on why we have 3rd World Countries. Basically, the rest of the world lives in poverty as they worship idols; have faith in "religion"; or, only one "religion" is approved by their respective governments; etc. Many, like Haiti, practice voodoo and wonder why their sewage comes up in their streets. They don't have to live as they do but for one reason or another..., that's how they live.

America cannot fix the world. If those "peoples" come to grip with the Lord and begin to live accordingly, God will heal their land. Until then, they will live in their own waste and there isn't much anyone can do for them.

Not trying to be hard here..., just being honest.

 

[preachinjesus]

Familial ancestors as thieves and bigots? Now that's prejudicial.

Well first of all I didn't use those terms. Please don't put words in my mouth I didn't use.

Secondly, please describe to me how what we did to the Native Ameicans was both fair and equitable.

 

[Arbo]

Well first of all I didn't use those terms. Please don't put words in my mouth I didn't use.

I misunderstood you. I thought taking something that is not yours is thievery, and forcing prejudicial views on others was an action a bigot might do. Apparently I need a remedial english class.

Secondly, please describe to me how what we did to the Native Ameicans was both fair and equitable.

I never said it was. Now you are putting words in my mouth.

 

[Salty]

...Secondly, please describe to me how what we did to the Native Americans was both fair and equitable.

Please describe to me how what illegal immigrants are doing to Americans is both fair and equitable....

 

[righteousdude2]

Arbo is so Right On, Many Other are Simply Left Out!

And I roll my eyes at bleeding heart liberals who approve of the actions of those who don't play by the rules and call themselves victims.

My family were immigrants and they came legally.

It is more than "bleeding-heart liberals" who are encouraging not playing by the rules. It is these same BHLs that are wo be wrapped up in political correctness and the need to exercise "tolerance" that makes me wonder how tightly screwed their heads are on to their bodies.

Like your family, mines were immigrants, but they came through Ellis Island, filed an application for citizenship, and became a productive, socially assimilated citizen of this country.

We didn't spend our days and nights looking over our shoulders for INS. We didn't make quick, unsafe u-turns to avoid going through a DUI check. We didn't go to the local swap meet and purchase Social Security cards, Drivers licenses, and handicapped/disabled parking permits.

We learned English and joined in with our fellow neighbors and countrymen to celebrate the traditional holidays of THIS nation, and not the one we were born in. We followed the laws of the city, county and state we lived in, and didn't set up illegal portable restaurants on every vacant corner lot we could find.

We made sure we learned English, and taught our children English to make sure they had a fighting chance of making it in this new nation. We told out children that they needed to give up speaking German, Hispanic, Russian, Chinesse, Janpanesse, Phillipino, Tao, Viet Namnamesse, Italian, Greek, French, Swedish, Yiddish, etc.

We gladly became Americans, because we were proud to have made it past the application process and been sworn into full allegiance with this country.

We beamed with American pride, through our German, French, Hispanic, Jewish, Asian eyes; and sadly look on with disgust and frustration at the lack of legal enforcement of the same laws we adhered to, not out of fear, but out of respect for what it meant to be a true-blue American.

Arbo got it right, and I couldn't agree with him more than I do right now! :thumbsup:

 

[Mexdeaf]

Let's not blame the illegal immigrants, let's place the blame at the feet of voters who looked the other way while the people they voted into office allowed this crisis to occur. Including the present one that chooses to sue states that try to enforce the laws.

We get the government that we deserve.

 

[freeatlast]

Sometimes.

Immigrants are often the recipients of a new form of racism. And how we treat them is often a sad example of a once free and welcoming people.

I roll my eyes when I hear so-called "family values" conservatives who champion rights of traditional families (which is good) but then advocate for the separation and destruction of families whose parents are less than legal. And all of it because of a law passed in 1978 that labeled them as such.

Immigration is messy, but we are all immigrants.

We, Christians, need to see everyone, including the immigrant, as having value and aid them with love and care.

This is not about immigration. This is about people who are here illegally because they entered the country criminally thus are criminals. The laws today are not strong enough. All illegals should be first put in prison working them so as to pay for their keep and then deported at the end of their prison term. If their home country will not take them back then leave them in prison working to pay for their keep until some other country will accept them or leave them there for life.

 

[Robert Snow]

Let's not blame the illegal immigrants...

If I misread your intent, I apologize!

 

[Mexdeaf]

Wow! What a statement. Let's not blame the lawbreaker for breaking the law. It's our fault for having such laws in the first place. How ridiculous!

You must have stopped at that sentence and not read the rest of my post. Please go back and read the entirety of what I wrote.