That’s the scandal for me. America has been placed in a terrible situation, and there needs to be renewal within those countries.

Irish immigration halted, and then reversed, as the economy there grew and policies were developed to help those in poverty find jobs within their own area. That to me seems the most Christian thing.

Of course, we have a responsibility to those who are in need. But if we truly believe in a holistic Christianity, and the idea that America is not in fact the chosen land of God, then we have to also start really putting pressure on those countries who are willingly encouraging their own poor into great struggles.

These are not people wanting to come to America for the great restaurants or the beautiful scenery. They are desperate. And that desperation is caused by the policies of those who, in very many cases, affirm Christianity as their religion.

It’s a shame.

Jesus, remember, had some strong words for those who persecuted his followers. Jerusalem was not excused. Nor should those places that cause misery and heartache.

http://www.economist.com/specialreports/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10286197

You ask why not let them come, and it’s a good question that I’m not equipped to answer, since I haven’t studied the issue much. But I’m not convinced that a fully open door policy on immigration would be good in the long run either for the American poor, or for the flood of international-poor immigrants who would come. I think you have to have some sort of restrictions. More people may be good for the economy, but surely as with any such proposition, it is only true within certain limits. Too much of a good thing can become a bad thing.

What would it look like, practically, if the US did away with restrictions on immigration?

Well, why not. I mean, we must have the jobs for them or they wouldn’t be coming here in the first place. And if everyone who came were let in legally, then we’d be able to prevent them from being exploited by employers and they’d be paying taxes into the system. Not to mention that globalization experts like Fareed Zakaria have pointed out that one of the main thing keeping the American economy strong despite declining birthrates has been immigration. I.e. more people are actually good for the economy.

So, why not let them come?

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

karl – you’re right, this isn’t an either/or situation. I am not for no standards whatsoever. I think immigration needs reform and I think we need to seriously question why we are treating the symptoms and not fixing the problems. We need to take responsibility for our worldwide actions instead of just seeing immigrants as evil people out to steal our jobs. Fining them, splitting families, jailing them, and yes sending them back into horrific conditions are all punitive. when we jail women who have been trafficked here as sex slaves because they don’t have any documents and then ship them back (broken and “unclean”) to where they came from are we even beginning to show love?

Immigrants including asylum seekers come to the UK and want to learn our language, our culture and develop friendships etc. If the Church is open to it, reaching them with the gospel can become the most effective missionary programme ever. WE should see them as as a Godsend in order that they will hear the message that Christian, worth his salt, wants to tell.

What more does the Church want.