As I stood face to face with the southern wall at Whiskey 8, a former open-air detention site in San Diego, I was met with a myriad of emotions. I felt a strange juxtaposition of gratitude, pride, and pain. The border is an extremely complex issue, and today, a very salient one as well. The recent uprising against Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) has pushed this issue to the front of many people’s minds, not only here in the border city of San Diego, but all over the country. In a world of impulsive outcry, demands for support, and a mass circulation of misleading headlines, it is important for Christians to pause, seek out the facts, and discern God’s will in a given situation.
In the era of “all cops are bad” and paid protestors, Christians have yet again found themselves at an intersection of morality with the “Abolish ICE” campaign. In Leviticus 19:33-34, we read, “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.” In the same Bible, Romans 13:1 tells us to “be subject to the governing authorities.” We find ourselves in a polarizing place that is not only tearing our country apart, but causing strife amongst believers.
Uninformed outcry is often a result of ignorance. Knowing the facts is crucial for developing conviction and consequent action. ICE’s stated mission is to “Protect America through criminal investigations and enforcing immigration laws to preserve national security and public safety.” (ICE.gov) It was created in 2003 in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001. Since then, ICE has been used by every U.S. President, some more than others. The United States of America is a nation based on law, and like every law enforcement agency we have, ICE should be respected. Respecting governmental authorities is a clear command written by the Apostle Paul found in Romans 13:1-5 (NIV):
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established … But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
Here, the government is spoken of as “bearing the sword” and “agents of wrath.” It’s clear from this verse that the government bears responsibility for carrying out justice to maintain order in a society. They are called to uphold justice and peace in society. How do you uphold such justice and peace? Through law. We can have concern or hesitation with the strategy that is employed to do so, but calling for the erasure and subsequent disrespect of ICE is not a Biblical response. In the endless anti-ICE information rage, we must too remember the good that ICE does, such as locating 13,000 missing immigrant children in the last year and removing hundreds of thousands of violent criminals from our streets. ICE helps keep Americans safe.
As a prosperous and free nation, America has the ability to be a safe place for those fleeing persecution. My time at the border and working at an immigration law firm has exposed me to the oppression and violence of foreign governments and gangs. These individuals, without a doubt, have dignity and worth. I tangibly understand why people would want to come to America for a fresh start and a safe haven. Do we need to create a process with less red tape and ten-year waits? Probably. But the pressing question is, how can we do it in a regulated way that protects American citizens and upholds the law of the land? To allow everyone to enter our country is to disregard the safety of those who are citizens and those who are here legally in search of a safer, more prosperous life.
The emotions I felt that day at the border were gratitude for my life in the United States, pride in my President for enforcing the law that protects our country, and pain for the stories that push people to seek refuge in the United States.
As Christians, we can hold many emotions; one doesn’t negate the other. Yet, our emotions cannot cloud our commitment to the truth. ICE is not a perfect entity–we live in a deeply broken world. We can and should work for reform and procedure that is just for all American citizens, yet never in such a way that abandons reason and incites emotional, ineffective uproar. ICE deserves our respect as they work tirelessly to keep America safe. While some in our country stir up emotions and orchestrate unrest, remember Who is ultimately above it all. Cast your doubts, anxieties, and uncertainty on the Lord. For He alone can carry the full burden.
Mycah Heise is a Young Women for America Ambassador in California.
