The Rio Grande Valley has become my adopted home. As a pastor in this vibrant community I have the honor of living with and serving people from all backgrounds and all walks of life– including immigrants.
Recently, I had the opportunity to head back to my hometown, Washington DC, to advocate to our federal representatives for the importance of immigration reform. After all, in Texas especially, we know firsthand that immigration is not a mere political issue. Instead, it is one that impacts real lives including law enforcement officers, asylum seekers, local government officials, and everyday members of our community.
Good faith discussions on immigration must incorporate measures for border security, grant a path to citizenship for Dreamers already in our communities, restore compassionate enforcement of our laws, and provide measures for asylum seekers. As a Pastor, the Bible is my authority – which both gives me reason to want and expect our government to ensure safety and order while also offering compassion and kindness to immigrants.
In Scripture, Jesus affirms that we should “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s,” acknowledging our responsibilities to the governmental authorities that God has established. But Jesus also made clear in his parable of the Good Samaritan that Christians simultaneously have a responsibility to love our neighbors, especially vulnerable travelers of a different ethnicity or religion. As a Christian, I can and must honor both of these principles– and we must also do both as a nation, starting here in the Rio Grande Valley.
Yet, recent measures taken at the state level by our Governor and State Legislature have failed to honor both of these principles and have been deemed not only ineffective, but also cruel. While meant to enforce our laws, these measures have failed to even honor the law. In fact, a U.S. District Court Judge recently ordered Governor Abbott to relocate floating buoys in the Rio Grande for this very reason.
Some recent national solutions that have been presented will also miss the mark. For example, H.R. 2 – which passed the House of Representatives and is now being seen by some as a blueprint for border security improvements – would dramatically roll back due process for asylum seekers. Groups advocating for the persecuted church, such as Open Doors US and World Relief have warned that this approach could “slam the ‘golden door’ on persecuted Christians seeking asylum under the terms of current U.S. law.
Considering all of this, it is clear that these recent measures are ineffective, unlawful, and expensive. But even more concerning is the fact that these measures fail to respect the dual biblical mandate to both protect the nation and offer compassion and protection to foreigners. There must be a better way and I believe the Rio Grande Valley can help lead the way.
Throughout my years in ministry, I’ve seen people of my church with very different political leanings come together to provide compassion and dignity to migrants, honor law enforcement officers, and support dreamers. Our church has worked side by side with local government officials to help migrants when numbers surge. We have the opportunity to come together again to serve these vulnerable migrants in our communities and along the border.
One viable solution would seek to ensure secure borders, protect due process for asylum seekers and provide undocumented residents of the United States the opportunity to make amends and earn the chance to become lawful residents. This bill is the Dignity Act, cosponsored by borderland Democrat Representative Veronica Escobar and Miami Republican Maria Salazar. Provided in this bill is $35 billion for border security improvements and a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who would pay a fine and meet other appropriate requirements, a combination that 78% of evangelical Texans support, according to Lifeway Research.
I pray that other Texas congressional leaders, including our Texas Representative Monica de la Cruz and U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, will seriously consider these proposals and pass a viable solution. As we advocate for change on a national level, churches like mine will continue to care for the vulnerable among us. Now, it’s time for our country to rise up and do the same.
Editor’s Note: The above guest column was penned by Nick Maddox, an associate pastor from the Rio Grande Valley. Maddox was born and raised in Washington, DC. In addition to his work among the faith community in South Texas, Maddox speaks at conferences across the state, businesses, and schools in the community. He is a graduate of Leadership McAllen (Class 40), Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and North Carolina Central University (B.A. Psychology). He serves as associate pastor of BT Church, a multi campus church in the Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend areas of South Texas.
