Religion and Immigration

by Jaelyn Peterson

In January of 2017 Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45^thPresident of the United States of America.  President Trump’s opinions and policies have been polarizing and very controversial for the citizens of the United States.  One of those controversial topics is immigration, specifically at the United States/Mexico border.  President Trump’s immigration policy stresses his black-and-white perspective, placing emphasis on the criminal nature of illegal immigrants. Therefore, President Trump is determined to build a wall on the United States/Mexico border for increased security against illegal immigrants, making it harder to find illegal refuge in the United States of America.   This issue has had a lot of media coverage and continues to cause contention among people. This topic is very important to the many people residing in the United States and around the world.  Similarly, religion is also an important aspect to many Americans.  Whether you believe in President Trump’s policies or not, I found it very interesting to research what major religious sects believe about immigration in general. I specifically researched immigration beliefs of these religious groups: Atheists, Muslims, Jewish tradition, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and Catholics. Although I do not wish to influence any personal beliefs on immigration I would like to educate on beliefs of major world-wide religions and provoke thoughts regarding current immigration policies and trends.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, also known as DACA, is an immigration policy concerning children.  This policy enables unlawful adults in the United States to be eligible for various things to prevent deportation after being brought into the country as children.  President Donald Trump stopped the ongoing of the DACA policy.  The American Atheist group published an official statement by the President of the American Atheists, David Silverman, regarding the DACA: “this is about more than politics. This is about recognizing our shared humanity and celebrating the contributions made by all Americans, including those brought here as children. Just as our nation is made stronger by the diversity of religious views of its citizens, it is made stronger by its immigrants.”  This statement shows that the American Atheist society is against the DACA policy and therefore pro-immigration because our nation is made stronger by the diversity brought from these people.

https://www.atheists.org/2017/09/daca-statement/

Just like many other world religions Islam is founded on a history of migration and persecution.  John Carroll University discussed the implications of the early religion on the current and future trends on immigration.  The Qur’an, the Islamic book of scripture, recount many migration experiences of prophets.  It also defines that all land, despite the manmade borders and laws belong to God and therefore should be shared with equality and fairness. “The practice of the Prophet with regard to immigrants in the early history of Islam can be taken as an example for our modern-day approach to migration and immigrants.  The Qur’anand the saying of the Prophet contain many examples of peaceful societies made of immigrants as well as regular citizens.”  Although I couldn’t find a lot of research regarding the Islamic beliefs on immigration this article illustrates what doctrinal beliefs are present.  Just like the other religions researched and discussed Islam encourages fair and just treatment of immigrants.

http://jsr.shanti.virginia.edu/back-issues/vol-10-no-1-august-2011-people-and-places/the-quranic-perspective-on-immigrants/

The Jewish tradition has interesting and relevant perspectives on immigration. Like other religions, they believe in fair and just treatment of “strangers”.  In fact, the Torah commands this kind of treatment thirty-six times. Interestingly, their beliefs were largely dependent on their past experiences.  Jewish tradition states, “Our story as Jewish people, one with repeated displacement and migration, can sensitize us to the experience of immigrants today.”  Many of the scripture stories and personal experience highlight this exact truth. The Jewish story is based on displacement and movement. “Moreover, our historical experience of persecution should encourage us to make both the United States and Israel serve as safe havens for those who are oppressed in their home countries.” I was very impressed when reading about the Jewish views on immigration the increased love they expressed in relation to their immigration beliefs.  Jewish values urge human kind to treat new immigrants with respect and fairness.

https://www.momentmag.com/ask-the-rabbis-what-does-judaism-say-about-immigration/

https://rac.org/jewish-texts-immigration

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is another church organization prominent in Utah but seen throughout the nation.  They released an official statement in response of the U.S.-Mexico border immigration challenge.  They said, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has long expressed its position that immigration reform should strengthen families and keep them together…While we recognize the right of all nations to enforce their laws and secure their borders, we encourage our national leaders to seek for rational, compassionate solutions.”  Like other religions, they believe in welcoming people, in the ability of government to establish laws, and they emphasized the role of the family.  Their doctrine, policies and beliefs highlight the importance of the family unit.  The church’s position is based on three main principles.  The first principle is to follow the commandment to love thy neighbor, the second principle is to keep the family intact and the third principle is the governmental right to secure borders.

https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/immigration-response

https://www.lds.org/church/news/church-calls-for-unity-compassion-in-new-statement-on-immigration?lang=eng

Another major worldwide religion is Catholicism.  At the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops immigration was brought discussed in relation to their religious beliefs and the Catholic scripture, The Catholic Catechism.  The first point discussed is that there is a duty to welcome people out of charity.  “Persons have the right to immigrate and thus government must accommodate this right to the greatest extent possible, especially financially blessed nations.” The second point is the duty to secure border and enforce laws.  The Catholic Catechism states, “political exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoptions.”  These two quotes form the Catholic Catechism are very interesting especially regarding the current immigration reform in the United States. Not only do Catholics believe in welcoming foreigners out of respect and charity for other humans, especially encouraging financially blessed countries to do so, they also believe in the right of governments to establish and enforce laws.

http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/immigration/churchteachingonimmigrationreform.cfm

Immigration is a sensitive subject because of the political and personal experiences each of us have.  Despite what current policies are being debated I think it is very important to look at these controversial issues from varying perspectives.  I specifically researched various immigration beliefs of these religious groups: Atheists, Muslims, Jews, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and Catholics.  Although some of these religious groups had different motivating factors, each one was determined to provide a safer, more just environment for immigrants because we are all immigrants.  Information and varying perspectives are crucial in order to make an educated decision. I hope that from this research you have determined, like I have, regardless of your political views to treat other human beings with fairness and kindness.