[Note: I recently had an insightful conversation with The Rev. John Butin, a local immigration attorney and Episcopal Priest here on St. Simons. John’s expertise with immigration issues helped me understand what exactly the recent presidential executive order entails – it is the subject of today’s rambling. Fr. John and I will facilitate a conversation on refugees next Thursday, February 9, in the parish hall at 6:00 pm. Our goal will be to enter into respectful dialogue about refugees in the context of our faith and also American policy. If you’d like to discuss these matters or learn more about them, I encourage you to join us]
“Sometimes we get locked into strident, polarizing positions, as if our only choice is between opening our border completely in the name of love, or locking everyone out in the name of security. Let us be clear: this is a false choice. You can care about refugees and care about securing our borders. This is not a “liberal vs. conservative” issue. It’s not a “Republican vs. Democrat” issue. It’s not all black-and-white. There are shades of gray. There are entirely legitimate reasons to insist on a careful, thorough screening process for those coming into the United States. Insisting on adequate security does not make you a “cold-hearted conservative.” Nor does insisting on compassion for refugees make someone a “bleeding-heart liberal.” More importantly, we need to see beyond the dualistic, mutually exclusive categories of “us vs. them.” Our security versus their well-being. What if, in reality, our well-being is tied up in theirs? What if our security is connected to theirs?” [i]
When I read the words above on a blog post from the Preemptive Love Coalition, I realized that I had not read anything else that so clearly summarized my thoughts on the latest political headlines about immigration and refugees. There is, of course, a great deal of controversy surrounding President Trump’s recent executive order addressing all refugee resettlement, and immigration and travel from a select number of countries in the Middle East. In our hyper partisan environment the order has created an incredible backlash.
I have discovered that many people are confused about exactly what this particular executive order said, so it might help to summarize it here. (If you haven’t read it, you can find it easily on the internet.) There is a temporary suspension on entry for citizens of seven previously-identified “countries of concern” for 90 days, even those with dual citizenship with another foreign country. As written the Order applies to all nationals of the countries of concern—even those who hold Lawful Permanent Residence (Green Cards) in the US, though the White House backtracked quickly on this clear overreach. There is a ban on Syria and their refugees indefinitely. It also suspends the entire refugee resettlement program for 120 days no matter where the refugees are coming from, Europe, Africa, Asia, or anywhere else. It is not a total or permanent Muslim ban, as some have said, although parts of the temporary ban apply to Muslim-majority countries long identified as potential hot spots for terrorism. It is important to note that each of the bans can be waived on a “case by case basis”, and a few have entered under these waivers already. The ban will allow administration officials to study the processes involved and determine if changes are needed to ensure safety of our citizens. The order also outlines some details of the procedures that will be looked at.
Some see the executive order as completely reasonable, while others find it immoral. There has been push back from Christians across the Christian spectrum who have condemned the inclusion of the entire refugee resettlement program in the temporary ban. The voices include those who generally support the current administration and those who have great concerns about it. Statements have come from evangelical leaders, the Pope, The National and World Council of Churches – even our own Anglican and Episcopal leaders have denounced this order. The treatment of refugees is of great importance to Christians (and Jews) because of our tradition and its fundamental teaching.
Setting aside security concerns for a moment, let’s explore why this matters to Christians. First and foremost, our Judeo-Christian history is built upon the Israelites and their experiences as a people without a homeland while they wandered. At various points in the Jewish tradition God’s people were foreigners in other people’s lands. At times they were able to settle and form community and at others they were dispersed as refugees and migrants. It is no wonder that there is a steady stream of teaching from the prophets and rulers of Israel about welcoming the alien and the refugee. God’s people would not have survived without some assistance and protection during the liminal periods of their existence. Jesus has a similar message, and we remember that his own family was, for a time, a family of refugees; fleeing Herod’s wrath they lived in Egypt until it was safe to come home.
All of this helps explain why Jesus taught us to care for the outcast and the stranger and why his example was always to reach out to the powerless and the most vulnerable. When it comes to refugees we realize how vulnerable they are; they are among the most vulnerable citizens of the world. There is a long history of caring for refugees that predates our own nation, and has also always been a part of our national identity as well. People escaping persecution and war make up a significant part of the history of migration to this country. All of this is to explain why people are speaking up for refugees. As the opening paragraph suggested at the outset, concern for refugees does not make one a bleeding heart liberal. It simply comes with being a thoughtful and faithful follower of Jesus (in the case of Christians).
The difficulty comes when we have to balance national security with compassion towards those in desperate need of resettlement. The fear expressed centers around a worry that those who wish us harm will infiltrate our nation and commit terrible acts of terror in our midst. To date, refugees are not to blame for any such attacks in the last 40 years. Vetting processes were strengthened after three Cuban refugees killed three people in the early 1970’s – the only fatal attack by refugees in modern history. To be clear, refugee is a specific category of immigrant. We have allowed other individuals into this country who have done us harm, but so far almost none have come from the ranks of refugees in comparison. When we speak of security and vetting/screening people coming to this country, the category of refugee is by far the most vetted and screened category we have, which is probably why they are not committing acts of terror.
The delineation between types of people coming into the country is helpful, yet can be confusing. There are labels including, migrants, immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, plus those nonimmigrants from these categories who travel on different types of visas designed to facilitate temporary stays here. Some come temporarily for work or travel, others arrive with a visa geared towards staying permanently; some come temporarily and later seek permanent status, and then there is illegal immigration that includes sneaking across borders, or just as commonly , overstaying a visa. The refugee process starts with the United Nations and includes a great deal of background work by US agencies for those who come here. The entire refugee process takes eighteen months to more than two years, even for that tiny percentage of applicants whose applications are successful.
As people react to the order that has suspended all refugee resettlement for at least the next four months, there is concern that shutting down that program is not likely to make us any safer than allowing the process to continue while working to change it would have. Allowing those in the process to continue while at the same time doing the investigative work that this administration wants to do seems to be a better blend of security and compassion. Even if there was an allowance for some refugees to continue to enter the United States after proper vetting, that would be better and more compassionate than stopping all refugees from entering. It is simply unnecessary to ban them all. Without an imminent, credible threat, there isn’t a need for the total suspension of the refugee program. One explanation seems to be found in the reports that the order was not thoroughly considered by agencies and organizations working with refugees before it was issued. This has no doubt led to some of the political turmoil too. The partisan aspects of this debate and the inner workings of the current administration will take care of themselves..
Where we can enter in is by standing with refugees, and anyone for that matter, who is vulnerable and in need of assistance. There is no theology in our tradition for ignoring such people, even when there is some risk to ourselves involved. It need not be one or the other. We can encourage our leaders to keep us safe and improve our vetting process while also being responsive to those who need protection in the meantime. We can ask God for the strength to swallow the fear that comes with helping those who need us, following the example of the martyrs and saints before us who have given all to help those in need. The chances are really quite small we will have to sacrifice ourselves or our loved ones to do the same.
Finally, please hear from your priest that if you are on the security end of the spectrum of this debate I don’t think you’re cold-hearted or some kind of extra sinful person. We’re all on a journey and we’re each called to face challenges. My hope and prayer is that we find a way to welcome at least some of the refugees we would normally have welcomed in the coming months, and that we would remain safe in the process. We are the voice for the voiceless and the strength for those who are weak. Regardless of policy, regardless of politics, that never changes.
Tom+
Lord God, no one is a stranger to you and no one is ever far from your loving care. In your kindness, watch over refugees and victims of war, those separated from their loved ones, young people who are lost, and those who have left home or who have run away from home. Bring them back safely to the place where they long to be and help us always to show your kindness to strangers and to all in need Grant this through Christ our Lord.
[1] http://www.preemptivelove.org/president_trump_executive_order_refugees_5_things