Strangers in a Foreign Land, a.k.a. my thoughts on immigration

I’ve long held the belief that God does not care all that much about the imaginary lines we draw around our countries. I don’t think that God see borders or colors the same way we do. In fact, if God thinks anything of “aliens” or immigrants, he protects them, along with the poor and the widows. These populations, the ones deemed “the least of these,” are the ones he defended the most. (Matthew 34)

In this country, unless you are a full-blooded American Indian, then you are a direct descendant from an immigrant. I find it ironic, that in a country that is comprised almost entirely of immigrants’ descendants, we now find ourselves in a position to be exclusive. It is an eery parallel to what God told the Israelites: “The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. (Leviticus 19:34)

Here are some insights, taken from a homily by Bishop Bennett D.D. Burke, the bishop of the Diocese of Arizona:


They came to "a new world, one for which most were unprepared." It was "a mass migration on an epic scale." With "the modest goal of staying alive," they "came to America with few material possessions and even fewer marketable skills," and "flocked to the most difficult, worst-paid jobs they could find," usually as "laborers or domestics."

"A rural people," they were "Catholic, unskilled and poorly educated." Many were illiterate, and spoke little or no English. Some native-born Americans considered them "dangerous aliens," "remote from us in temperament and constitution," and "considered their poverty a sign of God’s censure." Critics claimed the "government’s assistance had made the…people worse instead of better," and condemned the immigrants as "lazy and careless, dim-witted, given to idleness and drink, under entirely different sanitary influences than the American population." "Decidedly unambitious and lazy," they would "rather take handouts than work." Anti-immigrant legislation often ensued, claiming that the immigrants, "unable to participate in the normal affairs of the community" would "erect a society within a society, to act together in their own way."

Sound familiar? Well, it might, but you may be thinking of the wrong immigrants. All these things were said about the Irish in the latter half of the nineteenth century.


I am a descendant of Irish immigrants. As Bishop Burke reminds us, the Irish were once thought to be barbaric and ignorant. Now, we get to read books like How the Irish Saved Civilization. We learn about former Irish-American presidents such as J.F.K. and Ronald Reagan. And on March 17th, we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

In a land that extols liberty, justice and freedom for all, it is ironic that we still struggle to extend these rights to everyone. Each ethnic group that has immigrated here, especially in mass numbers, has found it hard to assimilate, has taken on the bottom rung of employment, and has been thought to be inferior somehow. Yet, look at the richness of the United States of America that is a direct result from our patchwork of cultures.

In a country that is just a little over two centuries old, a blip on the historical timeline, I find it sad that we already think we know exactly who an American is and isn’t. Is our national identity really so defined that we have no room for anyone else?

Sure, immigration reform is needed. Hardworking taxpayers deserve certain benefits. But I think reform includes rights for everyone. I don’t think people should die trying to cross our borders. I don’t think we should claim they are stealing our jobs when, in reality, they are doing jobs Americans won’t do. I don’t think we should complain about all this money they supposedly take from us when we pay them under the table and at far less than minimum wage.

In the middle of August in South Carolina, you pass plenty of farms with migrant workers. I wonder how many employers would enjoy immigration reform, if it meant that illegal immigrants would be banned, and those left would enjoy the benefits of minimum wage.

In heaven, when we stand before God, I don’t think he will care nearly as much about our status as a good taxpayer (Matt 22) as he will about our status as a Good Samaritan.

Con la libertad y la justicia para todos…


Verses to check out:
Ezekiel 22:29
Exodus 23:9
Deuteronomy 24:17
Deuteronomy 27:19
Psalm 146:9

Ben Harper

I have somewhat of a thing for Ben Harper. I may even be a tad obsessed. I've been trying my best to get tickets to one of his Colorado shows for weeks. Alas, the shows sold out an hour after tix went on sale, and missionaries cannot afford E-bay prices. So, I had resigned myself to trying to go to a summer show until a certain someone completely surprised me with tickets to his March 31st concert at the Fox Theater in Boulder. It was one of the nicest things anyone's ever done, especially since that certain someone has never even listened to Ben Harper. And the show was AMAZING! He played all my favorite songs and did four encores. He's such a talented musician who combines so many styles. Oh, and did I mention that he's beautiful? Haha.