Who do we want to be?

In our country today, you see two very different visions of America emerging. There are many ways we could define this, but I want to focus on just one: immigration.

Do immigrants make America great?

Or should we make America white again?

I've been putting together a presentation on immigration for my interns, and it's been disheartening as I've gone deep into U.S. immigration history. Disheartening because I remember as a kid learning in school that America was a "melting pot" of people from all over the world who have come together to live in a free democracy, and that is what made us special. 

There is a point to which that is true. The U.S. is home to more immigrants than any other country in the world. In January of 2025, the U.S. was home to over 53 million immigrants, about 15% of our overall population. They do indeed come from all parts of the world, representing a wide variety of cultures, languages, and traditions. Immigrants in the U.S. contribute trillions of dollars into the economy, build businesses, inspire new ideas, and boost the birth rate.

Here's where the disheartening part comes in, however. In 1790, one year after the U.S. Constitution was signed, one of the very first things the founders did was establish a law restricting naturalization in this new country to "free, white people." That declaration, that the U.S. was to be a white country, has threaded itself throughout immigration history - and we see it even playing out today.

Reese Jones does an excellent job describing this in his book, "White Borders." He writes about some of the philosophy behind the "white nation" ideal, relating it to different thinkers, influencers, and writers throughout our history. One concept that really stood out to me is the idea that only white people can bring about a "civilized" society. Christian nationalists and white supremacists often express this idea when they claim that immigrants cause more crime, or that Black people "prowl the streets" looking for trouble, or any other crazy stereotype that is thrown around. They blame societal breakdown on non-white people, rather than on any other contributing factors (like, perhaps, the rich stealing from and taking advantage of the poor).

Over history, there has been much debate - and changing policies - about who should be considered "white." The shifting waves we see right now in our country have been happening since the beginning. When a president or administration is immigrant-friendly, recognizing the benefit immigrants bring to our country, immigrants are welcomed here. There are even incentives for them to come, like special visas for people with skills we need - sometimes farmworkers, sometimes scientists. But when the administration changes and people panic, worrying that the "whiteness" of our country is disappearing, then suddenly there are great deportation movements to deport brown people and limits on who can immigrate here. 

We are in one of those stages now. One of the worst ever. Immigration of all kinds to the U.S. has dropped significantly in the last ten months. Deportations - voluntary and forced - are on the rise. Racial profiling of non-white people has been greenlighted by the administration and the Supreme Court. Virtually no one is receiving asylum. Protective status for over a million people who have found safety and refuge here from the violence of their homes has been revoked. The refugee ceiling for 2026 was dropped to only 7500, and refugee agencies have been ordered to prioritize "white" refugees.

I keep thinking, when are we going to learn? When are we officially going to reject white supremacy? When are we going to stop the cycle? We have to decide once and for all what kind of country we want to be.

Where should the Church stand on all this?

I have to continue to come back to Jesus. Jesus, God incarnate, walking among us. In Jesus' day, the people had their own concepts of "othering." They blamed societal breakdown on the Samaritans and the Romans and the "sinners." Jesus broke down all of their barriers. He loved people. Period. He talked to the Samaritan woman and made a Samaritan the hero of His story. He healed a Roman centurion's servant. He ate with "sinners" and even chose "sinners" to be His disciples. He turned their world upside down. I have a feeling He would turn ours upside down too... if we let Him.

In Revelation 7:9, we see all nations, all tribes, all languages, standing before the throne of God. God's Kingdom is diverse. God's Kingdom is inclusive. God's Kingdom is equitable - providing equal opportunities for all to join in and participate.

I've heard Christian leaders and missionaries describe immigration as an amazing opportunity for the Church to witness to people who come from countries we don't want to go to. That may be true. Although it should be noted that between 70-80% of all immigrants to the U.S. are Christian, either Protestant, Evangelical, or Catholic. And the Church in their countries is often way more vibrant and awake than ours, so maybe actually they are the ones who should be witnessing to us.

Nevertheless, immigration does give the Church a chance to truly BE THE CHURCH, by loving our neighbor, welcoming the stranger, and caring for the foreigner - all things the Bible calls us to do. 

We may not have much control over what our government is doing - though we can certainly keep protesting (peacefully) and VOTING. But we do have control and say when it comes to what kind of Christian we want to be, and what kind of Church we want to build.

Be better, Church.

Our immigrant neighbors need us right now more than ever.

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