I believe God's commandments to the nation of Israel should serve as an example for how we as Christians should view this issue. Concerning ancient immigrants God commanded Israel saying,
Exodus 22:21
Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Exodus 23:9
Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Leviticus 19:33
And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.
Leviticus 19:34
But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 10:18
He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
Deuteronomy 23:7
Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.
The strangers were also granted social benefits that were entitlements for the poor, widows, and orphans...
Leviticus 19:10
And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 23:22
And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 25:6
And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you; for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee.
Deuteronomy 10:18
He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
Deuteronomy 24:19
When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.
Deuteronomy 24:20
When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
Deuteronomy 24:21
When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
Deuteronomy 26:12
When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;
I believe these verses express God's feelings toward "strangers" in the land. These principles were put in place by God for a nation. I believe that we as Christians do well to support policies and initiatives that embody these same principles.
Sadly, many politicians are always needing an "enemy" or someone to "demonize" to rally the voter to their cause. Rather it be liberals demonizing Bible believing Christians or Conservatives demonizing illegal immigrants... this just seems the way it is. We as Christians should answer the question biblically, not politically. I personally feel that many illegal immigrants were led here by God though many of our conservative brethren would have them shipped off or flown somewhere. America is a beacon of hope and freedom for the entire world. Why should we close the doors to those seeking a better life? Our ancestors immigrated here through colonization. Yes, we too were strangers here once. Our immigration laws are clearly in need of revision and our views need to change. Immigrants aren't the enemy. They are just people wanting a better life for themselves and for their families. Right now they work under the table and face the possibility of arrest and deportation. In many cases this splits families right down the middle. If we could find a way to make them legal they would expand the tax base and then they would be contributing something to this wonderful nation.
I'm not sure why we're taking such a hard line on this.
Anyway, those are my thoughts. Just thought I'd share.
God bless.
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