{"id":4827,"date":"2008-11-17T12:45:56","date_gmt":"2008-11-17T16:45:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/?p=4827"},"modified":"2009-01-16T18:01:22","modified_gmt":"2009-01-16T22:01:22","slug":"the-gospel-and-immigration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/2008\/11\/the-gospel-and-immigration\/","title":{"rendered":"The Gospel and Immigration"},"content":{"rendered":"
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US Government JPATS (Justice Prisoner and Alien Transporation System) plane, used for mass deportation. Image by Cubbie_n_Vegas via Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

A High Priest I know is in crisis. He is an immigrant who, like many other Church members, came to the US without a visa, according to what I understand of the situation. After arriving here he joined the Church, and eventually fell in love and married a U.S. Citizen, a wonderful, faithful Church member. This situation would normally put him on track for a green card and U.S. citizenship.<\/p>\n

But this brother is facing deportation, and his ward and stake are praying for a miracle that will keep him here in the United States.
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The indiscretion that is giving this High Priest trouble is one that is relatively minor and has already been resolved. Years before joining the Church this brother was convicted of drug possession. He served his time for this crime and repented of it before joining the Church. But under immigration laws, the fact that he has paid for his crime isn’t enough; a conviction of any kind at all puts an immigrant at risk for deportation.<\/p>\n

From the perspective of the Church, he has repented, and paid his debt to society as required. So in his ward and stake, he is treated as a member in good standing.<\/p>\n

This situation makes me wonder about how our country handles immigration issues. Are our laws truly fair and just? I’m not talking about obedience to current laws here. Its not an issue of “honoring, obeying and sustaining the law.” I have no dispute with the idea that laws should be followed. The question is whether or not the current laws should be changed. I just don’t see how the current laws are fair or just! I don’t see how they are being just to my friend. He paid for his crime.<\/p>\n

This issue has been discussed before, both here on Times & Seasons, and elsewhere in the Blogosphere. But I can’t find anywhere that my direct questions have been examined without conflating them with the “law and order” issue. For this post, let’s NOT discuss whether or not the current immigrants should be deported because they have done something illegal. Instead, let’s talk about whether or not the immigration laws are what we want them to be.<\/p>\n

I know many Mormons want tougher immigration laws. What I don’t understand is the logic for wanting tougher laws, given the principles the gospel teaches. When I look at the gospel, I don’t see any way to justify restricting immigration laws much at all.<\/p>\n

Perhaps its just me and my way of thinking. Perhaps I just didn’t know the gospel well enough. If so, please someone set me straight. Show me some gospel logic that justifies restricting immigration.<\/p>\n

Let my try to put it a few different ways:<\/p>\n