To the Christian, we cannot ignore scripture in OUR Bible and furthermore, we should not use it to justify our lack of compassion.

Leviticus 19:33-34 says “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. 34 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God”

Mark 12:30-31 says “30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[a] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] There is no commandment greater than these.”

A Christian may also point to another scripture like the following:

Romans 13:1-3 “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 

I think we can look throughout history and be grateful for the people that rebelled against the tyranny of a dictator.  Even the early colonizers in America rebelled against the King which was the precursor of this nation and its religious freedom.  Let’s take a step further and acknowledge that there are missionaries sharing the hope of Jesus in parts of the world that have outlawed Christianity, thus breaking the law of that government.  To take this scripture literal, you would be like the pharisees who tried to trap Jesus when he healed the man’s shriveled hand on the Sabbath.  Read Matthew Chapter 12 and you will find Jesus did a masterful job rebuking them.

The Christian belongs to a Kingdom much greater than your government.  So why are we more concerned with our government enforcing it’s laws than we are following the law of His Kingdom and loving thy neighbor as thyself.  What about Grace!

The very people we want to “send back” are those that Christ gave his life for.  And what is their heinous crime?  Crossing the border illegally to seek a better life and protection?  Not returning home when their Visa expired?  Christ gave his life for you, he also gave his life for the immigrant.  Can we love them like Jesus?