To religious Americans: What is your position on immigration?

Question

What, if anything, do you think should be changed in respect to the immigration policy/naturalization process currently practiced at the federal level?

Note: This question is directed toward people of faith to gain spiritual perspective on the issue.

Thank you to all those who answered in relation to their faith. That is what I was hoping to get. It does not seem appropriate to dismiss one's religious teachings when answering a question about a civic issue. You can't be a part-time follower.

Also, the Bible may say that we must follow the laws of the land, but remember, we can change those laws to whatever we choose to.

Answer 1

First we should be able to control our borders, then we should make sure that anyone who is here and working is treated with respect and equally under the law.

Employers that are paying sub-standard wages to them should be put in jail, this is a form of slavery, or at least indentured servitude.

People that break the law should be sent back.

Next we need a system to assimilate the ones here working that want to stay into our society, most of us are immigrants.

Lastly, we need to help make changes in their own countries (Peacefully) so that they have a decent standard of living there. We are called to take care of our neighbor, that is not just the family down the street, but the family in Mexico or Haiti that needs food, shelter and clean water.

Good Question!

Answer 2

As far as I know, most religions require you to follow the law of the land where it does not contradict that religion. The religious position must therefore be for enforcement of immigration laws.

Illegal aliens specifically would be religiously prohibited, being clearly in contradiction of the law of the land.

As far as legal immigration goes, I don't see any religious relevance.

These are the only issues I see. Except maybe something about helping people in need, but there's enough people in need in one's own country without ever having to address outsiders. In fact there's probably a case for attending to your own community first.

comer59: So you wouldn't turn away terrorists and other criminals? The immigration process is in place precisely to keep these kinds of people out.

Answer 3

Since you didn't specify any particular religion, I am guessing you'd like the views from all religions. I am a neo-pagan and I take my faith and my dedication to my gods very seriously.

I see nothing wrong with legal immigration--in fact, I think it's great! I have problems with illegal immigration though. If someone is going to break our laws and not respect our laws, I don't think that they should be given amnesty. 20 years ago we gave amnesty to 4 or 5 million illegal immigrants and were promised by our government that the borders would be secured. Today we are looking at giving amnesty to 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants and are once again being promised that our borders would be secured. Why not simply enforce the laws that we already have? Why give amnesty to criminals when there are millions of law-abiding individuals who are following what they need to do to become citizens? Are we going to refund them their money and time for obeying and respecting our laws? I'd like to see the process go quicker than it does but that doesn't give anyone the right to break our current laws. If someone is here illegally, they should be deported and our borders need to be secured. Once that is done, then we can work out a better way to speed the legal process for folks who would like the privilege to become citizens of the US if they are interested. I disagree with the way our government is providing benefits to people knowing that they are here illegally---even offering them business loans that citizens are ineligible for! It is too much of a burden for some states to keep giving illegal immigrants free medical care, free child care, free schooling, and free food. The legal residents are breaking under the strain in many communities because the taxes are just getting too high. In my home town of 25,000 people, over 50% are now receiving some type of governmental subsidy. Over 50% of the births last year were to Mexicans and a large part of those were either to illegal immigrants and/or to minors. The tax payers just can't handle the heavy load of providing for all of these people. I can't afford to live there anymore. My father is 74 and is still there but property taxes, state taxes, local taxes, sales taxes, and the cost for car insurance is destroying him. (Car insurance is so high because of the large number of unlicensed, uninsured drivers in the state).

I think that we need to enforce our laws and send them home with instructions on how to legally apply for citizenship. And we should fine the country that they came from for our trouble.

Answer 4

My spirituality has nothing to do with my position on immigration. Personally, I don't mind immigrants, but I expect them to learn the language, follow our laws, and pay their own way. The illegals (at least in my State) are a severe financial burden on the working middle class. We can barely afford our own healthcare, but we pay for theirs. What needs to change about our current process is it needs to be enforced. If it keeps going the way it's going, people won't want to immigrate here because it won't be the land of opportunity anymore.

Answer 5

My perception is this u . s . became based upon immigration. I easily have honestly no issue with immigrants who come here legally. i think of a few thing ought to be achieved approximately unlawful immigrants and this is my reasoning. a million. this is the suited of any u . s . to worry over the aspects and welfare of present voters and resident extraterrestrial beings to settle on who can and can't come right into a rustic. 2. people who sneak right into a rustic illegally are goals for exploitation and crime. quite the "coyotes" who charge exhorbitant expenditures and then abuse, abandon, or homicide their expenditures. 3. this is no longer honest to those that went by way of each and every of the crimson tape and performed by way of the guidelines to get in to allow illegals to stay. i understand that individuals say that we can possibly no longer have mandatory workers with out the unlawful immigrants. i do no longer purchase it. we'd only could desire to pay voters and legal immigrants extra money to do those jobs. And every person who says individuals won't artwork has on no account considered the teach "grimy jobs." If there are people who'll do those jobs, there are people who'll do something. additionally, if it does finally end up that we choose extra workers, all we could desire to do is enable extra human beings in. What i'm asserting is, you're welcome here as long as you play by way of the guidelines. i think of that's what's honest.

Answer 6

I have no problems what so ever with immigrants. Its the "Illegal Immigrants" that I have a problem with. I think if you want to come to America you should have to go thru the proper channels. I do think the government could make the process a little better, not have them wait so long, process their paper work a lot quicker.

Answer 7

I believe that if a law is broken then you should suffer the consequences. Not really alot of gray area there.

Send people back to their own country if they did not take the legal steps to be in the USA. This time just make sure that they take their children with them so the the libs can't complain of human rights violations.

I agree that businesses that knowingly employ illegal aliens should be fined and enormous amount of money for violating US laws.

Answer 8

I believe America should be more generous when it comes immigration. I feel that they're a bit cold about it at times. People are moving in and out of countries all the time so I don't believe over population will be an issue.

Answer 9

I believe that the wall needs to be finished before we start granting amnesty to any illegal immigrants. Regardless of what you think should be done with the immigrants that are already here, it is unfair to allow more illegal immigrants in because we don't want to spend the money for a fence. This is unfair to the thousands of immigrants who have been waiting in line properly to get into this country.

Answer 10

I think that america needs to take care of its own first. Drive down to the ghetto and see if you cant find someone looking for work. We need to take care of those people before we let others come in. I dont like the fact that illegals drive down wages for other workers either. there are a lot of people that will work. But companies need to pay a fair wage to get people to do it. I bet you cant get a job as a garbage man. Thats a job no one wants to do. But if you pay enough people will line up to do it.