How to Biblically Respond to Biden’s Executive Action on Immigration

June 19, 2024

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At a ceremony marking the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, President Biden announced an executive action—which is nothing more than an executive order—that is estimated to protect over half a million immigrants from deportation. Given the proximity to the executive order that effectively closed the border between official ports of entry two weeks ago, many are curious to see what happens next as the president attempts to change both his policies and image on immigration.

But before we look at the bigger picture, let’s talk briefly about what the latest executive action is intended to accomplish:

The new regulation is limited to illegal immigrants who were married to legal US citizens before Tuesday, have lived in the country for at least ten years and have no criminal record. The White House estimates that around 500,000 people would meet these criteria. The application period is expected to begin this summer.
If approved, they have three years to apply for permanent residency and a three-year work permit in the United States.
Current U.S. policy requires any undocumented person who marries an American citizen to leave the country before they can apply for legal residency, also known as a green card. As a result, many people choose to stay in the country illegally rather than leave their families to take the necessary steps to live legally.
In addition to changes in the process for obtaining a green card for some spouses of U.S. citizens, the executive action also simplifies the visa process for graduates of American universities who are allowed to stay in the country after completing their studies, provided they have received a job offer from a U.S.-based company.

Overall, the president’s move appears to benefit people most Americans would like to help and who have already taken steps to demonstrate their appreciation and commitment to the country. But if that’s the case, why was there so much hesitation and doubt in making the announcement?

Who does it help?

The sad truth is that given the politically charged situation many people seem to live in on a daily basis – and which is only exacerbated by the upcoming election – it is understandably difficult to take government actions at face value. And even when genuinely good things are being done, it is easy to look for ulterior motives that make you wonder what the real purpose is.

Tuesday’s executive action, for example, damages the public perception of having helped half a million people become legal, contributing members of the country by the fact that Nevada, Arizona and Georgia — key swing states this fall — each have over 100,000 voters living in “mixed” households. While green card holders are barred from voting in federal elections, their spouses, who are U.S. citizens under these circumstances, can.

After his previous order angered many of his left-wing supporters, the White House quickly reassured his supporters: “In the coming weeks – and I mean coming weeks – I will be talking about how we can make our immigration system fairer and more equitable.”

There are good arguments that this policy does just that.

At the same time, Republican Whip John Thune is not wrong when he warns that decisions like this can create further “pull factors” that “increase the incentive for people to come here illegally.”

So how should we view the president’s executive action, and what can we learn from it about a biblical approach to immigration?

When perception becomes reality

Dr. Mark Turman and I discussed this topic at length on this week’s Denison Forum podcast, but for today there are two principles that can help us honor God through our approach to this topic.

First, think back to your initial reaction when you read the title of today’s article. How accurately did your expectations reflect the reality of what the executive action seeks to accomplish?

Unfortunately, most people – both inside and outside the country – only know what the headlines suggest. In such circumstances, a perception can quickly become reality if enough people believe it.

On a larger scale, it is important to keep this fundamental truth in mind as we reflect on our witness and the impact our statements, contributions, and responses to issues such as illegal immigration and many others can have on people’s views of Christianity.

Pastor Greg Laurie once quipped, “You are the only Bible some people will ever read. They will literally form an opinion about God based on what they think of you.”

If this were the case for you today, how accurately would your perception reflect the reality of who God really is?

Search for truth instead of convenience

Second, Biden’s executive action will benefit hundreds of thousands of families, but it will also make the situation at the border even more difficult to manage. Both may be true, and we should not allow one impact to diminish the importance of the other.

If we claim to represent the God who is truth (John 14:6), we must discipline ourselves to reject simple understanding when it requires ignoring the reality of a situation. And that responsibility becomes even more daunting when the truth challenges our preconceived notions about what we want to believe.

If someone on the other side of the political spectrum does something that honors God and helps those they love, celebrate it. Conversely, if someone on your side makes mistakes and goes against God’s will, don’t ignore it or accept it as a necessary evil.

As fallen, flawed humans who still retain the image of God as a core element of who He created us to be, some elements of our thoughts and actions will reflect both sides of that identity most of the time. However, we will never become the ambassadors of Christ we are called to be if we allow anyone other than God to determine how we know right from wrong.

So as you consider President Biden’s executive action – or any other topic that comes up in conversation or on social media – prioritize truth over simplicity and remember that this discernment is much easier when you include God in the process.

Let’s start today.

Release date: June 19, 2024

Ryan Denison, PhDis senior theology editor at the Denison Forum. Ryan writes The daily article every Friday and contributes to many ministry productions as a writer and researcher. He holds a PhD in Church History from BH Carroll Theological Institute after earning his MDiv from Truett Seminary. He is the author of The way to the goal, What are my spiritual gifts?, How to Bless God by Blessing Others, 7 Deadly Sins, and has contributed writing or research to every book in the Denison Forum.

The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of Zebra crossingHeadlines.

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