A new crossroads: Migrants and the Christian Church - Updated
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| Migrants at El Paso, Texas CBP facility. DZN. |
Exodus 23:9 (NIV) - “Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt."
Migration is constant and it is cyclical*
EL PASO, TEXAS/MAY 11, 2019 -- Situation:
Record numbers of border-crossers from Central America are seeking entry into the
United States [1]. Most are requesting political asylum, alleging persecution
by violent gangs.
Other migrants arrived in smaller numbers from African and East Asian countries. According to the Associated Press, 109,144 migrants were detained in April, most since 2007; the number included 58,000 parents and children and 8,800 unaccompanied minors.
Other migrants arrived in smaller numbers from African and East Asian countries. According to the Associated Press, 109,144 migrants were detained in April, most since 2007; the number included 58,000 parents and children and 8,800 unaccompanied minors.
The steady influx of Central American migrants has stressed
the capacity of U.S. detention centers (government and privately owned). A lack
of coherent immigration laws and policies have resulted in the separation of
children from parents, hundreds of underage youths held in detention camps, and
the deaths of some migrant children in U.S. custody.
The U.S. government asked Mexico to allow Central American
and other migrants seeking U.S. asylum to remain in Mexico while their cases
are pending. It is unclear how committed the Mexican government will remain to
this arrangement. Mexican border cities, including Juarez, Chihuahua, are
complaining that they do not have the resources to accommodate the migrants.
The situation has transformed formerly routine immigration
matters into a political and policy crisis. Infighting against a background of
2020 presidential politics has done little to solve the problem. Congress and
the Senate have failed in the past to adopt immigration reform laws, which many
lawmakers and experts agree is needed to address the complex maze of rules,
regulations and laws currently in effect.
In El Paso, the federal government called on nonprofit
organizations (mostly run by the Catholic Diocese) to temporarily house the
migrants. The increased volume of migrants overwhelmed the nonprofit
facilities. A camp was set up outside Tornillo, 20 miles east of El Paso's downtown, to house juveniles and was
closed in January 2019 [2]. Annunciation House recently announced the opening of a large facility to
temporarily house migrants, while U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced
a new temporary facility at the Border Patrol station in Northeast El Paso,
which can house up to 500 migrants [3].
What’s
different today?
Criminal smugglers are a driving force. They are using
social media and drone technology to organize “caravans” and to notify migrants
about where and when to cross the border. They collect thousands of dollars
from migrant families, and often leave them to luck to find their way to their
destinations. [4]
The
Christian response(s)?
Ephesians 2:11-22 (NKJV)
Exodus 22:21 (NIV)
Volunteers from various non-Catholic churches have assisted
in serving at nonprofit shelters set up by churches, and hundreds of El Paso
residents have donated clothing and food to these shelters.
Churches have also provided their buildings as temporary
shelters, others have sponsored (adopted) families to help them get on their
feet.
Volunteers help by sorting donated clothing, serving food, making calls for transportation, transporting migrants to airport or bus terminals, setting up cots, cleaning living areas after one group leaves before another arrives. Pastors and others pray with the migrants who request prayer.
The migrants generally are friendly. They have traversed dangerous territories, walked hundreds of miles (some more), and bring their young children. Some pregnant mothers also travel with the migrant caravans. The migrants readily share their stories to explain why they are traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Volunteers help by sorting donated clothing, serving food, making calls for transportation, transporting migrants to airport or bus terminals, setting up cots, cleaning living areas after one group leaves before another arrives. Pastors and others pray with the migrants who request prayer.
The migrants generally are friendly. They have traversed dangerous territories, walked hundreds of miles (some more), and bring their young children. Some pregnant mothers also travel with the migrant caravans. The migrants readily share their stories to explain why they are traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Borders?
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| Border Patrol station in Northeast El Paso, TX. DZN |
We can tell from the Bible that God set up borders for the
nation of Israel, and on the basis of the Bible’s description of the Jewish
nation’s border, and international pressures, the modern nation of Israel was created in 1948 [5]. Exodus
23:31 (NKJV).
Migration has taken place across the globe since Adam and
Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden. According to the Bible, an angel and flashing sword placed east of Eden guard against access to the tree of life.
It is unclear whether any humans had migrated beyond Eden before the Fall. It may be that the Garden's boundaries grew with the population, but we can only speculate.
It is unclear whether any humans had migrated beyond Eden before the Fall. It may be that the Garden's boundaries grew with the population, but we can only speculate.
The confusion of languages at Babel probably contributed to
groupings of humans according to the language spoken and understood. The oldest
spoken language still in use today is believed to be Tamil, while other
scholars tend to think it’s Hebrew. Languages likely led to the formation of nations
with borders, but nation-building also occurred as a result of conflicts, wars
and colonization, which ended nomadic lifestyles. Migration is a fact of
history. [6: See link to time-lapse map of European borders.]
Refugees
U.S. laws that determine who is a refugee and the
conditions under which an asylum-seeker can enter and remain in the country are complex
and are driven by politics. (i.e., Cuba, Honduras, etc.) Countries of origin given favorable
status vary, depending on geopolitics. This holds true throughout the world.
God ordained cities of refuge (sanctuary) for the sake of
justice. (Numbers 35:6-34 – for Jews and non-Jews; Joshua 20: 2-9; Deuteronomy
4:41-43 and 19:1-13; Exodus 21:13). God asked Joseph in a dream to flee to
Egypt with Mary and the baby Jesus, because Herod wanted to kill the child (whom
he considered a potential political rival). After Herod died, Joseph was told
he could return to their home country (Matthew 2:13-18).
Prior to WWII, the
U.S. and other countries turned away a ship carrying Jews that were forced to return to Germany and
were killed by the Nazis [7]. Today, different countries accept or reject migrants depending on where they come from or their religious culture.
The Bible contains dozens of verses address how Christians should treat
“foreigners:”
Leviticus 19:33-34; Exodus 23:9; Psalm 146:9, etc.
Locally
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| A Heart for Missions members set up for presentation. |
However, based on anecdotal testimonies, it is generally difficult for ministers to have access to the migrants, in order to offer them Christian services (counseling, baptism, communion, etc.) or provide them with church referrals in their destination areas.
The housing arrangements for migrants keep changing, and
many of the migrants are in the local area for one to four days at most. The
ones who have relatives in the United States are released so they can join them
while their cases are pending. There is no citywide or countywide plan by
Christian churches in El Paso for how to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of migrants. It is a
challenging situation.
Pray for God's heart in the matter, for wisdom and guidance.
[Update: Pastor Beto Gonzalez of Del Sol Church-TM mentioned today that representatives from churches of various denominations in El Paso, Texas, met to discuss how each could help the migrants. This is great, because the response for help has to be interdenominational. The "whole" church - made up of people who call on the name of Jesus Christ - ought to be involved in developing solutions. Pray that this spirit of cooperation continues.]
Refugee: a
person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger or persecution.
Pray for God's heart in the matter, for wisdom and guidance.
[Update: Pastor Beto Gonzalez of Del Sol Church-TM mentioned today that representatives from churches of various denominations in El Paso, Texas, met to discuss how each could help the migrants. This is great, because the response for help has to be interdenominational. The "whole" church - made up of people who call on the name of Jesus Christ - ought to be involved in developing solutions. Pray that this spirit of cooperation continues.]
Definitions from Merriam-Webster Online
Migrate/Emigrate: to
move from one country, place, or locality to another (seasonal workers): to
leave one's place of residence or country to live elsewhere. Migrant: someone
who migrates.
Immigrate/Immigration: travel
into a country for the purpose of permanent residence there: to
enter and usually become established. Immigrant: someone who immigrates.
Endnotes
[1] Record for the Southern Border https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2019/05/08/border-crossing-asylum-seeking-migrant-families-hit-record-april/1145596001/
[3] https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/immigration/2019/05/03/border-patrol-tent-city-shelter-el-paso-texas-immigrants-families/3654560002/
[5] https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/creation-israel
[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iha3OS8ShYs
[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iha3OS8ShYs
*Presentation for A Heart for Missions/Del Sol Church-TM.
Compiled by Diana Washington-Valdez. Photos by Digie Zone Network (DZN)
Compiled by Diana Washington-Valdez. Photos by Digie Zone Network (DZN)
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