“More than 52,000 children–unaccompanied by an adult–have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border since October of last year. About 75% of the children are from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. The rest are from Mexico. They travel by bus, train, car and raft to Mexico, often led by smugglers who charge up to $10,000 each, officials say. They then walk across the border and into the custody of U.S. agents. It’s a punishing journey that leaves the children and teens vulnerable to abuse or sex trafficking. In June, the body of a 15-year-old Guatemalan boy was found in some brush at the border.
Families are sending their children to the U.S. to escape crime, gangs and poverty and to reunite with relatives who may already be on American soil. The surge appears to be rooted in rumors that a change in U.S. immigration policies means any child who crosses the border can stay. It’s a myth. Children who arrived after 2007 are not eligible for deferred deportations or a proposed path to citizenship.
By law, unaccompanied children are transferred into the custody of the Department of Health and Family Services within 72 hours of their arrest. The next stop is temporary shelters–a network of 100 around the country that are over capacity–until authorities can find family or foster homes to take them while their cases play out in immigration court, a process that can take years. While Mexican adults are often sent right back across the border, the women with children who come from Central America are being kept in family detention centers or let go with orders to return for a court date.” (The preceding is from NBC News at http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/immigration-border-crisis/basics-border-crisis-how-did-we-get-here-n147601.)
The following is from God’s Word . . .
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows
in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (James 2:27).
” . . . I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger
and you welcomed me” (Jesus–Matthew 25:35).
” . . . learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the
widow’s cause” (Isaiah 1:17).
Precise interpretation for each of those passages depends on context. But even without delving into that it’s clear God cares about oppressed people and requires his people to care as well. Isaiah warned of the Lord’s judgment if Israel didn’t. Jesus explained that when we care for the needy we are caring for him. And James said care for orphans and widows is the religion (the Greek word connotes the idea of worship-in-action) that God accepts as pure and undefiled.
So what should the church do? What will the church do?
Finger-pointing at Washington won’t help, though this border mess is just another example of inept politicians (including the President–maybe especially the President) who have refused for years to sacrifice an inch of their political careers to close U.S. borders. (Do you see why the world needs a King who will rule in justice and righteousness? [Isaiah 9:6,7])
“Not-in-my-town” protests won’t help, though the federal government “dumping” illegal immigrants on an unprepared city is unfair to the town and uncaring to the children and women and will only lead to more abuse.
Blaming sin won’t help, though this crisis (a culmination of multiple human evils in Central America, Mexico and Washington) is at root the result of human sin against our Creator and the consequences of rejecting our Savior who alone can change human hearts and a classic example of a fallen world ruled by fallen humans.
What will help? Obviously closing the border. (Every politician’s face in Washington should be red with shame for not getting this done–both to prevent such a crisis and protect the American people.) Why doesn’t the President send the National Guard? Just as obviously, passing legitimate immigration reform would help. (I don’t know details and I’m afraid politicians will mess it up even if they could cooperate to get it done. Is failing government a sign we are now a nation living God’s wrath? [Romans 1:18-32])
Neither of those things, though, will help these children now. Besides, the church’s concern shouldn’t be first with Washington; the church’s first concern should be with the Kingdom. What would our King do? What would he have us do? How would he have us be salt in this corrupt earth and light in this dark world for the Father’s glory in this crises (Matthew 5:13-16)?
I’m not sure. But I am sure of this: according to Jesus, James and Isaiah, we can’t just turn off the TV and go to bed.
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