'We Were Strangers Once, Too'

IF YOU'VE been following Sojourners’ work for the past few years, you know that we have been deeply involved in efforts to reform our nation’s broken immigration system. In the wake of President Obama’s game-changing executive actions in November and the political firestorm they ignited, it’s appropriate for us to reflect on how we got to where we are today and where we might go from here.

After the 2012 elections, it seemed all but certain that we would see comprehensive immigration reform become law during the 113th Congress. The electorate in 2012 had a higher percentage of Latino voters than ever before, in keeping with our country’s changing demographics. The mandate seemed clear for political leaders on both sides of the aisle to prioritize immigration reform or risk alienating a constituency vital to winning future elections.

Beyond this narrow political calculus, however, many of us became deeply involved in the struggle for immigration reform because we strongly believe that fixing our broken immigration system is a moral imperative, and long overdue. Our faith as Christians compels us to struggle for a more humane immigration system. Indeed, the scriptures could not be clearer. In the Old Testament, the Lord commands: “Also you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 23:9).

In the New Testament, the stranger and all who are vulnerable are at the very heart of the gospel. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus offers a vision in which caring for them is the defining mark of God’s kingdom: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matthew 25:35-36).

This text from Matthew was instrumental in my conversion to Christian faith. And it has converted millions of Christians to support immigration reform.

Over the past few years, Sojourners has worked to raise the voices of these Christians. In doing so, we have played an important role in coalitions whose breadth and diversity is unprecedented in the history of this issue. To give just two examples: We came together with a number of key evangelical organizations and leaders to form the Evangelical Immigration Table, a broad coalition advocating for immigration reform consistent with biblical values. We have also worked closely with the National Immigration Forum’s Bibles, Badges, and Business network, which brings together faith leaders, law enforcement officials, and business leaders to advocate for reform—three important constituencies for Republicans in particular. And this is just scratching the surface of Sojourners’ work on this issue.

Unfortunately, despite the hard work and powerful witness of people and organizations from all political persuasions, religious beliefs, and walks of life in favor of comprehensive reform, Congress did not pass a bill. Politics triumphed over people. The Senate passed a bipartisan bill for comprehensive reform in June 2013. But Republican leaders in the House of Representatives gave in to the most extreme anti-immigration elements of their party and refused to bring the bill to the floor. This is all the more tragic given that the Senate bill, if put before the House for a vote, would almost certainly have passed with bipartisan support.

And so, more than 500 days after the Senate bill passed, President Obama used his executive authority to bring some relief to those suffering the most under our broken system—immigrant families living under the constant threat of separation through deportation. In the absence of a new and better immigration system, which only Congress can provide, the president is working within the constraints of the system we have now to treat the “strangers” among us more humanely. Paraphrasing the passage from Exodus I quoted above, he told Americans to remember that “we were strangers once, too.” In response the Republicans, newly emboldened after winning the November midterms, vowed to do everything in their power to stop the president’s actions.

So that’s where we are now. But where might we go from here? As I said, only Congress can ultimately reform our broken system, so it is to Congress that we must continue to direct our witness and our voices. I believe there is still majority support for comprehensive immigration reform in both the House and the Senate. But in order for a bill to pass, congressional leaders on both sides must be convinced to put people above party. I believe this can happen if we keep growing and broadening our coalition and never give up fighting for the people among us who so desperately need our help.