Immigration – Across Borders

From Vicki Greene

Immigration

Across borders

Emotions are running very high regarding immigration; for those interested; here are my thoughts.

First, the US immigration system is completely broken. It has been for very many years.   It cannot be fixed overnight.

My great grandparents immigrated from Norway. There is documentation of my relatives’ arrival and family names are on file at Ellis Island. Their children learned English and assimilated to the culture of the U.S. They kept their heritage, as anyone should, but all became proud American citizens. (One distant family member did not become a citizen and there was scorn from the rest of the family.)

I’m saddened that we do have a minority of people who have come to this country that seem to want to undermine it and do not assimilate nor do they want to become citizens or Americans.   This is not acceptable.

Everyone who comes to this country needs to be vetted.They need to honestly be able to say : “I will obey the current laws of the land and the uphold the U.S. Constitution”.

Before you stop reading – hear me out.

I have navigated across and through borders since I was a young teen — there have always been “borders”. There are stopping points at every major highway out of this country. If you are flying – you need proof of identification to leave or arrive.

My first real personal experience with immigrants was when I fell in love with a family of dear Vietnamese refugees who came by boat to the U.S. I tried to help them learn English, introduced them to our culture and at the same time learned a little about theirs. They integrated the best they knew how and were thankful to be here, even though they missed their beloved country. They greatly impacted my life for years to come.

Most refugees would love to stay in their home country where they were born, and have family and friends, however; war, ethnic cleansing, famine, persecution etc. bring people here with hope for a better future.

Everyone wants hope and a future for their family and children.

I have spent time in a refugee camp in Africa – many have waited a lifetime to go back to their homeland – it is an extremely difficult place to live — many will die there – in the refugee camp. It is heartbreaking.

(You can read more about refugee camps around the globe elsewhere.)

The answers are not always easy nor simple. The system is broken. Sometimes we need to care for the people where they live by sending more help to the countries in need. As I said, many refugees would prefer to stay in countries near their homeland in hope of one day returning.

My second personal encounter with immigration came when Mexico became dear to my heart, through our ministry, working across the border of El Paso, Texas. During that time again, my heart was stolen by beautiful people in Juarez, Mexico.

We have friends who have spent years working with the Government to legally enter the country – they have worked and waited tirelessly, spending years in interviews and paperwork to get what was needed to be able to enter the U.S.

Many are still patiently waiting – legally.

My friends and others have waited (many living in poverty and harsh conditions) and gone through the legal procedures to find citizenship.

 ALL countries have borders – they all have regulations.

As I have traveled, a passport has been needed; there has NEVER been an exception.

At times, I have been questioned, needed to give an explanation for my visit, provide information on where I would stay, why I was there and who I was visiting, and when I would leave.

Vaccinations (which I would prefer not to take) are mandatory to travel some places.

Many places require a Visa and quite a bit of paper work.

I would not dare demand to enter another country (nor would I feel entitled to do so).

I’m a little confused by those who want open borders – I didn’t know there was such a thing – EVERY country I’ve visited has had a border.

We have friends from Mexico, Guatemala, numerous countries in Africa, Japan Pakistan, Israel Ukraine, Haiti, and Japan to name just a few – I understand the challenges of immigration and there are no pat answers.   We have dozens of friends who have become citizens (legally).

A few questions?

What makes the people coming up from the interior of Mexico (many from other countries as well) more deserving of coming to the U.S. – illegally — than from my friends suffering in poverty and conflict elsewhere around the globe?

What makes them entitled to come without the proper paperwork?

Is it possible that many who are speaking the loudest have never left our borders?

Have they ever befriended a refugee?

Do they understand immigration at all?

One concern that is rarely brought up is that the same people who have fled persecution for their Christian beliefs in their countries may now living alongside those who were the persecutor, and we will be guilty of having brought them here.

Please before you cry “no borders” – educate yourself – it is not always as simple as it appears

My preference would be that immigrants ALL come through legal means – go through the right steps, like my friends.

It looks like that probably will not happen. You can’t turn back time.

Until then…

I believe we are called to love all refugees – love all immigrants.

What can we do?

Pray for guidance for our political leaders

Pray for our broken immigration system

Pray for those going through the legal system

Pray for those legally waiting for asylum

Pray for those seeking legal status

Pray for people in refugee camps around the world

Prayer for families separated by war, strife and poverty

Pray for those who are persecuted around the world for their faith

Get to know people of other cultures

Open your heart or home

Sponsor a child in a poverty-stricken nation

When they do arrive – legally or illegally —

Love them, it may be possible that God is sending them to us, because, HE is their only HOPE. Ultimately our citizenship is in heaven.

By

Vicki Greene

 

“The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:34

“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.” Acts 17:26

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”   Hebrews 13:2

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Romans 13:1

“O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

“But you shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you.”   Leviticus 18:16