What is a Biblical response to illegal immigrants?
As I have read many comments of well-intentioned Christians with regards to the illegal immigrant crisis, two main camps of thought become evident. One side comes down on the great theme of fatherly love, to forgive and take in the illegals. The other is to stand by the rule of law and to not foolishly reward those who so easily flaunt it.
I think it fair to say that most Christians have a heart for the plight of aliens, refugees, and immigrants. Most can sympathize with the good desire to make a better living for oneself, the Biblical mandate to provide for one's family, and the desire for the opportunities which they only find in America. It is not just Christians, but Americans in general, whose hearts go out to those who are easily oppressed. For many the appeal to amnesty is seen as nothing more than a gracious expression of the "live and let live" mentality, as well as being what we would desire for ourselves.
Well known Biblical texts like Leviticus 19:33-34, and Deuteronomy 10:18, are cited by groups, like the Baptist General Convention of Texas, as the basis for their drives to assist illegal immigrants. The first tells us that "when an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt." The later teaches that God "defends the cause of the widow and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing."
While it is incumbent upon Christians to seek God's word in all matters, we need to be careful that we are hearing what God is saying. The first rule of correctly applying scripture is to know what is being said. More particularly we need to understand what was originally being said and to whom, and how the original audience understood it. Once we have discerned this we can move on to an application for what it should mean to us today.
When asked about how Christians should respond to divisive issues on which there seems to be two opposing, yet scriptural arguments, one of my seminary professors replied; if we were to genuinely seek the Lord on issues of difference God would faithfully supply us with the answer which upheld His glory. The same professor, however, also noted that differences often stemmed from a failure to properly apply clear scriptures, which is what seems to be happening with illegal immigration.
The question becomes: are "aliens" depicted in scripture the same as what we know as aliens today?Unlike today's legal and illegal aliens, the aliens, or strangers, to which these OT scriptures refers were not simply anyone who wanted to live in the Promise Land. Moreover, it must be understood, as the Puritan Mathew Henry noted, "It is supposed that this stranger was not an idolater, but a worshiper of the God of Israel, though not circumcised, a proselyte of the gate at least, though not a proselyte of righteousness" The further laws and instruction to those whom scripture calls "the alien within your gates" (Exodus. 20:10, Deuteronomy 5:14) make this claim clear. Unlike today's legal and illegal aliens, the aliens, or strangers, to which these OT scriptures refers were not simply anyone who wanted to live in the Promise Land. Moreover, it must be understood, as the Puritan Mathew Henry noted, "It is supposed that this stranger was not an idolater, but a worshiper of the God of Israel, though not circumcised, a proselyte of the gate at least, though not a proselyte of righteousness" The further laws and instruction to those whom scripture calls "the alien within your gates" (Exodus. 20:10, Deuteronomy 5:14) make this claim clear.
Looking more closely at the "alien" passages will help us to understand how the scriptural instructions were meant to be taken by the Israelites, and how we in turn can apply them. By doing so we will quickly discover major differences between the scriptural definition of aliens versus how we define aliens today. At the very least, aliens within the gates had to submit to Israelite laws; laws which made clear distinctions between those of convent Israel and those who lived with them.
While partially exempt from Jewish law (Deuteronomy 14:21) aliens were nonetheless beholden to much of it, even to the extent of being required to observe the Sabbath day (Exodus 20:10;23:12). They were also expected to maintain Levitical laws of sacrifice and cleanliness (Leviticus 17:8-15).
Aliens, unlike the Israelites, could be charged usury on loans (Deuteronomy 15:3;23:20). They could be bought by Jews as slaves, something Jews were not allowed to do to other Jews (Leviticus 25:44,45). They were not permitted to rule over Israelites (Deuteronomy 17:15), and they were forbidden to eat the Passover meal (Exodus 12:45).
Of particular interest, for application today, are the inheritance laws pertaining to land. These laws, such as Numbers 27:8- 11, were designed to ensure that no part of the Promised Land was ever divested to anyone but the Israelites. No alien could own or inherit land, they were not allowed to be part of these blessings. They could live amongst the blessings of the land, but not wholly partake of them unless they converted.
In an agrarian economy land was the means of sustenance, income, a measure of wealth, and the basis for what today we would call independence. If Christians wish to use the passages, regarding hospitality to aliens, to permit modern aliens into America, then a consistent application must also deny them the best part of the advantages of migrating to America. Namely, immigrants should have legal limitations to America's bounty, unless they become fully initiated into American culture.
To some extent, our current immigration laws have reflected some of these distinctives. Thus we grant probationary status allowing immigrants to prove their potential, and willingness, to become lawful citizens. Amnesty, however, circumvents the wisdom of such a probationary period, and the desired integration.
Aliens could only be naturalized into Israel upon full conversion: It is extremely significant that only those aliens who were circumcised, and caused "all their males to be circumcised" could "keep the Passover to the LORD... and he shall be as a native of the land (Exodus 12:48). This was the ultimate purpose of God's design of being kind to aliens, to draw them into total integration so that they could come to see and know the glory of God within the nation of Israel. Only upon doing so could they know the blessings of the promises of God.  It is extremely significant that only those aliens who were circumcised, and caused "all their males to be circumcised" could "keep the Passover to the LORD... and he shall be as a native of the land (Exodus 12:48). This was the ultimate purpose of God's design of being kind to aliens, to draw them into total integration so that they could come to see and know the glory of God within the nation of Israel. Only upon doing so could they know the blessings of the promises of God.
Also of significance, and of great instruction to us, is the history of Israel when it forgot how to welcome aliens into the camp. When Israel, instead of converting the aliens to God, allowed themselves to be prostituted to the ways and gods of the foreign nations it lead directly to their downfall and captivity.
The real key, however, to understanding the alien passages is to look to the reason God gave why the Israelites were to be kind to aliens; "for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." In other words, because of the Israelites own experience of living in a foreign land they should extend the same kind of grace that was extended to them.
As such we need to ask what kind of an experience did they have? Their sojourning experience in Egypt, at least the good part, can be summed up in this way. In a time of need, the Israelites were invited to come and dwell amongst the Egyptians.
Do not miss the fact that they were extended an invitation, for had they tried to come otherwise they would have instantly earned the enmity of the Egyptians. This, of course, is precisely what did happen later when their welcome had been worn out.
Illegal immigrants, by definition, have not been invited into this country, nor perhaps, would some of them ever be so due to their various peculiar proclivities. Furthermore, while many who seek immigration to the U.S. do so with benign intentions it is no secret that large portions of illegal immigrants do not seek our welfare, but their own. Far worse, we know that some number of them come harboring ill will and malice towards those whom they would live amongst.
Secondly, the invitation included the necessary corollary that the Israelites would live peaceably amongst the Egyptians and contribute to their welfare (Gen. 47:6b). They were also expected to abide by Egyptian law, and were to be careful not to offend their hosts (Gen 46:28-34).
Conclusion: Having explored the Biblical meaning of alien from the passages which deal with them we can now ask the question. Is granting modern illegal aliens amnesty, a proper application of such passages today?  Having explored the Biblical meaning of alien from the passages which deal with them we can now ask the question. Is granting modern illegal aliens amnesty, a proper application of such passages today?
The answer must be, in light of the actual meanings of the scriptural admonitions to be kind to aliens, a clear Biblical case against amnesty can be made. Christians should come to this conclusion not because we selfishly want to disallow people from coming into America and enjoy the blessings of this nation, but because granting amnesty will not fulfill the Biblical mandate. Granting amnesty, in this instance, actually goes against what God teaches his people.
Other objections answered:
Can we not simply choose to be kind and overlook an offense? While Christians can show great love by overlooking offenses, the grace imparted is efficacious on an individual level. Governments are impersonal by nature and cannot be conduits of grace, only law, whether good or bad.
What about Jesus' example with the woman at the well when he told her "to go and sin no more?" Again, it is important to recognize that this admonition came only after a personal encounter with the living God who taught her the road to redemption. Offering a blanket amnesty to an entire class of people without instruction in righteousness will not impart grace, but it will impart licentiousness.
Christians rightfully want to extend kindness, but we need to be reminded that there can be no theme of fatherly love that is divorced from God's kingly authority, sovereignty, holiness, and justice. Remove these and fatherly love becomes misplaced, distorted, and meaningless. We need to remember that God's standards assume that righteousness and justice cannot be achieved by allowing for lawlessness.
It is interesting to note that those who simply want to let bygones be bygones, to be 'nice', and allow all the illegals the right to stay, seem to forget how grossly unfair such a move would be to those aliens who are trying to come in legally. A recent article in World magazines June 23 edition, entitled Not a 'grand' bargain gives an account of a suffering due to trying to immigrate legally. How can we ask legal immigrants to sacrifice themselves for the sake of citizenship, but then reward those who break the law? The perverseness of such a message can only come back to hurt us.
God says that we are to overcome evil with good. That will not be accomplished by simply dismissing lawlessness. Therefore, the command to do no injustice to an alien does not necessitate allowing them to break the law. In fact, to allow them to break the law is actually increasing sin because we not only become accessories to their sin, but we are adding more sin. This cannot honor God.
Are we to love and serve illegal immigrants? Absolutely. The question becomes what does a true Christ like expression of love look like where illegal immigration is concerned? An acceptable answer is to open the doors as wide as possible to legal immigration, and then enforce the laws to make sure it is done equitably and securely. In the meantime, it is every Christian's responsibility to reach out to all those in need of the riches of the Gospel and not the false hope of material prosperity.
Granting amnesty while encouraging lawlessness is only the false gospel of feeling good about ourselves; no amount of material prosperity can ever replace the true riches and freeing truths of the whole counsel of God. Giving grace without the full Gospel, including the bad news necessary to recieve the good, is no grace and no gospel. Illegal immigrants need to understand they are under the law, and agree with it, before they can experinece the grace of forgivness and an invitation to come on equal footing.