n Feb. 11, Pope Francis sent an open letter to U.S. bishops concerning what he calls the “major crisis … of a program of deportation,” and encouraging them to stand up for the dignity of every human being. It is another example of Pope Francis’ selective ethics.
One of the most grievous points to me as a former refugee: It is silent about what the Catholic Church has taught on the rights of people to their own home and heritage, on the destructiveness of mass migration to both migrants and citizens pushed to accommodate them, and the necessity of stabilizing nations of origin.
Churches do not do enough to advocate for re-stabilization and repatriation. The easy answer of “let’s make room in the inn” sidelines the hard work of seeking the long-term good of potential refugees and their communities of origin. Here’s what my experience as a former refugee recommends.
My Refugee Story
In June 1978, my parents, sister, and I traveled by train from Thessaloniki to Athens. We had been living in Greece as Iraqi Christian refugees for almost a year. The American consul my dad was to meet was known as “tough.” He didn’t give the green light to anyone who came in with a sad story.
We were the last family to be interviewed that day after six or seven others. My dad was told none of them had received “The okay,” a foreign word to me then that I remember to this day in the sound of my father’s voice.
The consul listened to my dad’s story, then asked him: “You say you were persecuted in Iraq, but the Christians in Iraq are not being killed.” To this my father replied: “There are different kinds of persecution.” Pointing his forefinger to his temple, he said, “There is persecution here.”
My father recalls that the consul did not show any emotions on his face, but he did listen as my dad explained our life as Christians in Iraq. We received “The okay” that day. This vignette encapsulates what American immigration policy should be: Hard borders, soft hearts, prudence in who to accept, and temperance in how many.
All Immigration Must Be Legal
As a legal immigrant, I cannot stress enough that all our immigration needs to be legal. It builds a culture that respects the law for both the immigrant and the citizen, and it keeps the immigrant safer in both the process of immigration itself, and in a sense of security after arrival.
Legal immigration can benefit our country. For all immigration to be legal, the borders must be closed, and anyone caught entering illegally deported immediately. There should be a strike system—if you are caught attempting illegal entry, you lose the opportunity to come in legally.
The legal route should be more bearable and appealing than the illegal one. We should be able to move would-be immigrants from interview to entry within six months.
Illegal Crossings Endanger Migrants
The status quo entrenches a moral hazard: Illegal aliens are not only endangering Americans by crossing the border illegally, but also themselves. Open borders are not humane, nor compassionate. They make it easy for violent offenders to enter our country and for bad actors to traffic people, especially children.
The Department of Homeland Security put out a report on August 19, 2024 claiming U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cannot keep track of unaccompanied minors caught at the border and then released to homes in the United States. Between fiscal years 2019 and 2023, 32,000 children did not appear for their immigration court hearings. Beyond that, 291,000 children are now unaccounted for. That is 323,000 children at high risk of abuse, sex trafficking, and all forms of exploitation.
Open borders downplay rootedness and a sense of home. They tempt many to uproot who could have found a way to stay in their country of origin.
Open borders also endanger national security. It is the first duty of government to protect its citizens. Even people of faith — who sometimes let their hearts reign over their minds, and their compassion occlude their reason — acknowledge this duty. All churches should encourage migrants to obey U.S. laws, and help our government foster humane legal migration channels.
Read the rest of the article at The Federalist