Undocumented Immigration Analogy

Imagine a poor, desperate person walking the streets in search of shelter. They see your home and, with hope, knock on the front door. No one answers. Hearing voices in the backyard, they walk around to find help. But as soon as they step onto the property, the homeowner shouts, “You’re trespassing!”

The person wasn’t looking to steal or harm—they were simply seeking refuge. Yet instead of being met with compassion, they were branded a criminal.

This mirrors how we often treat foreigners in our country. Many come seeking safety and opportunity, yet the path to “the right paperwork” is long, confusing, and often out of reach. In their desperation, they take another way—and we label them as lawbreakers.

But these are people in need, not enemies. Our calling is to see their humanity. Scripture reminds us: “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:34). Jesus also taught, “I was a stranger and you invited me in” (Matthew 25:35). And Hebrews encourages us, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2).

Just as Native Americans welcomed the Pilgrims in a time of need, let us show that same love and hospitality to the foreigners among us today.