We appreciate, love and accept immigrants, for we ourselves are immigrants, just like it says in Exodus 23:9 “Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt. This nation was built on immigration and immigrants built it. Of course we must have borders, regulations and safety checks, but we need comprehensive reform that allows millions of families, who are just as American and part of the backbone of our neighborhoods, churches and communities as any one of us whose ancestors got here a generation or two earlier, to come out of the shadows and live freely, pay taxes, work freely and raise their families. We need a comprehensive reform that is fair, safe and moral with compassion at its center. Until we have this we must protect non-criminal (and criminal does not mean failure to stop at a red light…) immigrants. We can’t start on the right path until there IS a path.

We must stop scapegoating and the fear-mongering of immigrants and refugees, as these are the voices that wish to divide us. We must protect DREAMERS, and families who have been integral parts of our communities for decades. The need for a complete overhaul of our immigration system, total reform, is far past due that it has created a new set of problems we now have to deal with. We know we need immigration reform. But reform needs to take place with the governing hand of compassion. First of all, Jesus has called us to have mercy – to the measure we show mercy we will receive it (Matt. 5:7). So, our attitude towards undocumented immigrants must first be that of compassion, as the legislation we back as Christians should be real solutions to our broken system–not to scapegoat, threaten and spread hate towards our neighbors.

We must also remember that immigration as a whole has always been a good thing for our country, not a bad thing. If we fix our system, we will be able to enjoy the benefits of immigration as a society and the good impact it has on our economy.

Here is the Democratic Party platform on immigration:

1.    We have a broken system – the red tape is so thick it is practically impossible to do things legally for immigrants who want to! Part of the Democrats’ plan is to make it easier for people to enter legally and apply for citizenship by following our laws/rules, and to make it possible for those who are already here illegally to apply for status and begin living here legally. By giving incentive to do it the right way instead of vice versa, we will be on our way to creating a better system.
2.     Stop illegal trafficking, and create a more secure border with better technology and increased personnel.
3.     Stop the ineffective raids, which only work to separate families and cost money (compassion) and have proven to be very ineffective.
4.     Crack down on the employers who are taking advantage, paying low wages and mistreating undocumented workers.

These goals line up with ours as Christians. The hate exhibited against immigrants must stop. Except for Native Americans, we are all immigrants.

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

Lev. 19: 9-10

‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God.”

Lev. 19: 33-34

“When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. 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.”

Num. 15: 15

“The community is to have the same rules for you and for the alien living among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the alien shall be the same before the Lord.”

Deut. 24: 17

“Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge.”

Zech. 7: 10

“Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.