Unaccompanied Alien Children. That’s the official nomenclature assigned to some 12,000 minors held in custody by the United States Office of Refugee Resettlement (O.R.R.). And make no mistake about it: They are in custody, and are not being actively resettled anywhere except repurposed Walmart stores across more than a dozen states.
About five years ago, there was a dramatic surge in children arriving at the U.S.’s southern border. The majority of these came from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras; countries torn apart by corruption, poverty, and violence. Making the hazardous journey northward, these children fled for their lives.
It caused a humanitarian and economic crisis, as the U.S. system was overwhelmed with refugees. While the flood has subsided, O.R.R. centers continue to expand because of the recent policy of intentionally separating children from their parents.
This is done only to inflict emotional suffering – even on those who legally arrive at an approved Port of Entry seeking asylum – in an unconscionable effort to deter endangered families from traveling north. Instead of releasing minors to parents “without unnecessary delay,” as required, the O.R.R. is stockpiling Latino children, splitting families. It is immoral.
Yes, I know that such words will provoke a fair share of criticisms to my inbox, and I already know what the most common theme will be. It will be an accusatory question: “Why are you bringing politics into it? Stick with your usual devotional thoughts!”
But “politics” comes from a Greek word meaning “the people,” and it referred to how a populace organized their lives. “What is your politics?” was not answered with a voter card or by partisan affiliation. The question was deeper: “What ethic is most important to you and your neighbors?” Or, “What are your values as a community?”
I am “bringing politics into it,” but it is what John Howard Yoder called, “The Politics of Jesus.” It is the valuing of justice and mercy. It is a life of grace, welcoming the stranger and foreigner, and treating others as we would want to be treated. It is the intentional practice of sacrificial love.
“As you do unto the least of these, you do unto me,” Jesus said. “It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause a little one to stumble,” he declared. And when Jesus’ own followers (an irony that should not be missed in 21st century America), walled off the tired, poor, huddled parents from bringing their children to Jesus to be blessed, he rebuked them: “Let the children come to me! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”
Cruelty is not required to secure a border, nor are the platitudes and swaggering calls for “law and order.” For the “whole Law is fulfilled in one statement: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ When you love your neighbor, you fulfill all the requirements of God’s law.”
Photo by Jesse Taylor
EXCELLENT Ronnie. I believe many christians are remaining silent because this position conflicts with their political party’s beliefs. We as christians are to follow Jesus teachings when this type of conflict arises.
Reblogged this on Pastor Michael Moore's Blog and commented:
Amen, Ronnie, Amen! The voices need to be heard…
As of 2017, 65.6 million individuals have been forcibly displaced world wide because of persecution, conflict, violence, or human rights violations according to the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). This is not just a problem in the United States. This is a global crisis. I visited the Holy Land in February of 2015. At that time Jordan housed over 500,000 refuges due to the civil war in Syria. The USA is a disgrace as as a world leader today. So much for making America Great Again.
Amen, Ronnie! Damn the Inbox, full speed ahead with the voice of the Prophets!
These precious little and young lives cannot have too many advocates. What would Jesus do?
Ronnie: I have enjoyed your ministry now for quite sometime and look forward to your messages each Monday morning. I don’t disagree with the spirit of what you have posted today. However, I believe that you are “shooting from the hip” on this issue and making a contribution to the problem. There are currently 2.5 million homeless children here in the US (all around us). These children are dependent on their parents or whomever is responsible for them, to provide food, shelter and the normal “staples” of life. For whatever reason that is not being done. The difference with these children (homeless here in the US) and the immigrate children mentioned in your post, is that their guardians (the homeless here in the US) did not willfully break the law. The immigrants knew that the laws of our land require that they not cross into the US, with or without children, without proper documentation. God is pretty clear about our need for authority and for there to be laws that rule our society. Maybe we need to think more about the 2.5 million homeless children here legally in the US and make a greater effort at addressing that problem, and spend less time criticizing those in authority for enforcing our laws. Blessings, Mike
My mom sent me this and I just wanted to flood your inbox with a little appreciation! You make talking to my parents about these things much easier for me by laying it out in your terms that they understand vs my temper tantrums.
Thank you Ronnie!
Colby Taylor