ISAAC – Approaching the Issue of Immigration the Christian Way
Introduction
Immigration is a complex issue that affects many nations worldwide. Many countries have been grappling with issues surrounding immigration for many years. The immigration process has undergone many changes over the years, and it affects various aspects of a society, including the economy, identity, and justice. The Christian community is not immune to these effects, and Christians should be at the forefront of finding solutions and making a positive difference.
The Immigration Story
Throughout history, the United States has been a land of immigrants. People from all over the world have come to America in search of a better life, improved opportunities, or to escape persecution in their homelands. According to the Pew Research Center, there were approximately 44.9 million immigrants in the United States as of 2019, representing 13.7% of the population (Cohn, Passel, & Gonzalez-Barrera, 2020). At times, however, immigration has been met with resistance, revealing deep-seated fears and prejudices regarding the perceived negative impact of immigration on the economy, culture, and identity.
The Christian Response
The Christian response to immigration should be shaped by the principles of love, compassion, and justice. As followers of Christ, Christians are called to love their neighbors as themselves and to treat others with dignity and respect. Several Christian organizations have taken up the mantle of advocating for immigrants’ rights and supporting them in various ways. One such organization is ISAAC.
The International Society for Alienated and Marginalized People (ISAAC) is a Christian organization committed to serving refugees and immigrants worldwide. ISAAC was founded in 1984 by Dr. Kenneth Mitchell, a former missionary in the Philippines who saw a need to assist refugees in the Philippines and help them resettle in other countries. The organization has since expanded to serve refugees and immigrants globally, partnering with churches and other organizations to provide assistance, advocacy, and awareness.
Principles Guiding ISAAC
ISAAC’s mission is based on the following principles:
1. Love. ISAAC believes that love is the foundation for all Christian work and ministry, and that Christ’s love should be extended to all people, regardless of race, culture, or religion.
2. Compassion. ISAAC is driven by a deep sense of compassion for the plight of refugees and immigrants and seeks to provide practical assistance and support to help them integrate into their new communities.
3. Justice. ISAAC believes that justice is a fundamental biblical principle and that Christians have a responsibility to advocate for the rights of those who are marginalized and oppressed.
ISAAC’s Approach to Immigration
ISAAC’s approach to immigration is guided by the above principles and informed by the organization’s experiences working with refugees and immigrants. The following are some ways ISAAC approaches immigration.
Advocacy
ISAAC believes in advocating for the rights of refugees and immigrants. This includes lobbying governments and other organizations to enact policies that protect refugees’ and immigrants’ human rights. ISAAC advocates for policies that promote family reunification, protect refugees’ and immigrants’ rights to work and access to education and healthcare, and ensure the safe and dignified return of people who flee their homes due to conflict or persecution.
Awareness
ISAAC seeks to raise public awareness about the plight of refugees and immigrants. The organization conducts awareness campaigns and training programs for churches and other organizations, which aim to increase understanding of refugees’ and immigrants’ situations. ISAAC’s goal is to sensitize people to the issues surrounding refugees and immigrants, dispel myths and stereotypes, and promote greater compassion and understanding.
Assistance
ISAAC provides practical assistance to refugees and immigrants. The organization helps refugees and immigrants access basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing, as well as job training and placement, legal assistance, and language classes. ISAAC enlists the help of volunteers from local churches and other organizations to provide support and care to refugees and immigrants.
Conclusion
The issue of immigration is complex, and its effects are far-reaching. In addressing the issue, Christians should be guided by the principles of love, compassion, and justice. ISAAC is one Christian organization that has taken up the mantle of advocating for refugees and immigrants’ rights and providing practical assistance and support. Christians must continue to embrace the call to love our neighbors and to serve the marginalized and oppressed.
The Gang of Eight senators set out to reform the immigration system in profound ways through the immigration reform legislation that is being debated the Senate. The bill aims to increase border security, expand legal immigration for a decade, and, controversially, grant legal status to the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. It is especially this last provision which has gained the support of many religious and social justice organizations.
(More on News at LAWS.com, contact Adam for interviews “adama@laws.com”)
Once such organization is a collaborative ministry between Baptist University of the Américas and the Baptist General Convention of Texas that is called the Immigration Service and Aid Center (ISAAC). It seeks to properly equip ministries and other organizations with the tools to cater to the needs of the immigrant community. Naturally, ISAAC tackles the issue of immigration and immigrants from a Christian perspective.
The following is an interview with Dr. Jesus Romero, Project Coordiantor of ISAAC and Professor of Spanish and Chair of the Department of Modern Languages at Baptist University of the Américas, who speaks to laws.com about ISAAC’s views on immigration reform.
How do you feel about the immigration-reform bill being debated in the Senate?
I feel hopeful, perhaps guardedly hopeful, but nonetheless hopeful. This is the closest we have been to a reform of any kind! Even though the proposal is not perfect, I am hopeful about the positive elements in the bill.
What are some of the key changes you would like to see happen to U.S. immigration policy?
One element of concern to us at ISAAC is family unity. Although this bill puts people on a pathway to citizenship, we are a bit concerned that some preference categories may be eliminated. Not that we do not want more skilled people, that makes sense from an economic perspective, but, from a pastoral perspective, we do not want to see families in any form of disunity, so I wish this portion of the bill was more generous.
How are you addressing the issue of immigration from a Christian perspective?
When one starts taking a serious look at the Bible, one realizes that the history of faith is a history of migration. It is a story of different migrations, going all the way back to Adam and Eve migrating from the Garden of Eden to Earth. Abraham himself was an immigrant from present-day Iraq who was called by God to leave his place and go somewhere else where he would be a blessing to the nations.
Jesus Christ himself migrated from Heaven to Earth to become a man and reconcile all men to God. His incarnation takes place as a cosmic migration of sorts, but no sooner does he get to Earth does he get persecuted by an evil king trying to kill him, so his family is forced to take him and migrate to Egypt!
Jesus teaches to love others the way we love ourselves. The story that demonstrates this is that of the Good Samaritan. A Samaritan, a man part of a culture despised by mainstream Jewish culture at the time, is the one who helps a man in need on the road. The migrant is the good samaritan of our day. He is our neighbor, and just like us, he is created in the image of God. As Christians, we must love this stranger as we love ourselves.
What are some of the accomplishments of ISAAC?
Our best accomplishment has been in the area of training. Part of our mandate is to help other churches and other nonprofit religious organizations go through process of recognition and accreditation with the Board of Immigration Appeals so they can provide legal services to immigrants.
What are some of the future plans for ISAAC?
We decided to apply for our own accreditation and recognition with the Board of Immigration Appeals, which was granted last April! We are planning on opening an office on the campus of Baptist University of the Américas. Beyond this, we want to expand our training so that we train in more places in Texas and elsewhere in the nation.
For more information on ISAAC, please visit their site. For more information on immigration law and news, please visit our Immigration Laws Page.
Interviewed with Jesus, Romero, San Antonio, Texas by Adam Abdelaziz
