As Evangelical Christian leaders in Denver’s Metro area, we express to you our deep concern over our country’s broken immigration system. Because of our shared theology, which compels us to love, care for, and seek justice for the stranger among us, we call on our nation’s Congress and President to address this issue immediately. We believe:
- That all people are made in the image of God. As such, they are worthy of dignity and respect and have much to contribute to the common good.
- That as Christians we have a responsibility to love and show compassion for the stranger among us.
- That immigrants are our neighbors, both literally and figuratively. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves and show mercy to neighbors in need.
- In the rule of law and that Christians are to be a voice within our democracy for just laws that protect all people, especially the vulnerable.
We recognize that the current United States immigration system is limited and reform is necessary. The Bible does not offer a blueprint for modern legislation, but it can serve as a moral compass to help shape the tone, content, and purposes of contemporary laws. Using the Bible as our guide, we are compelled to support immigration reform legislation that includes the following elements:
- Secure Borders – A fundamental responsibility of the government is to secure its borders. We must improve safeguards and the monitoring of our national borders. Enforcement of our borders must reflect our deeply-held American values of due process of law, the sanctity of the human person, and the incomparable value of the family.
- Immigrant Labor – Various sectors of the American economy rely on the labor of immigrants. Laws and quotas should more accurately reflect this need and provide for the legal entry each year of a viable number of immigrant workers and their families.
- Path to Legality - Millions of undocumented immigrants live in the shadows of our country today. The present state of affairs does not allow them to flourish as constructive members in society nor does it serve the common good. A rigorous yet fair process needs to be established, requiring them to register with the appropriate authorities, embrace their civic responsibilities, and earn the privileges of legal status, for example: permanent residency, citizenship, work permit.
- Centrality of the Family – Immigration reform should reflect the central importance of the family. This commitment can be made concrete by reconsidering the number of visas available for family reunification, by dedicating resources to reduce the backlog of cases presently in process, and by acknowledging the negative impact of current deportation policies.
We urge our national representatives to re-engage the immigration reform debate in a civil and respectful manner. We emphasize the need for a national solution. We eagerly offer our time, energy, and ideas so that the current discussion might move toward greater understanding within our nation and constructive resolution through new legislation. We look forward to working together to find common ground on this critical issue.
