Evangelicals Support Immigration Reform

Public Domain, "Parable of the Good Samaritan", Jan Wijnants, 1670

IT WAS ABOUT TIME! The National Association of Evangelicals (NEA) has finally made a public declaration in support of comprehensive immigration reform in the United States. I do not know what took them so long to make up their mind, but it’s better late than never.

During the George Bush era thousands of immigrant families were separated. Children that were born as United States citizens were separated from their parents who were undocumented. They were mercilessly torn apart to enforced broken immigration laws. Equally painful was the stance taken by many so-called “Christians” which supported these inhumane acts. As Christians they forgot the mandates established by Jesus Christ himself that we must show love to our neighbors. Jesus Christ himself was an immigrant in the land of Egypt when his parents had to leave Jerusalem. The fact is that racist Christians do exists in the form of Glenn Beck, Lou Dobbs, and Bill O’Reilly. They became the “pastors’ of the Christian Right, which I have always stated publicly are neither Christian nor RIGHT!

“Our churches and communities have been blessed by immigrants, many of whom bring strong faith, entrepreneurial energy and traditional family values that strengthen our future,” said Galen Carey, NAE Director of Government Affairs.

Suffice to say I am overwhelmed with emotion that a major Christian body has finally made a public declaration about immigration reform. It makes me very happy to be called a Christian and very proud at that.