Refugees and Immigration: What does good look like?

Things that are not part of politics happening presently and how we approach or address it as Anabaptists.
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JohnH
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Re: Refugees and Immigration: What does good look like?

Post by JohnH »

Southerner wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 11:58 am I assume you are referencing illegal immigrants? Or does this apply to a "green card holder"?
Well, illegal immigrants should be removed, and then they can reapply to come in via some legal pathway.

For green card holders, they should have their green card revoked and be removed if committing serious crimes. I don't think they should be for a simple speeding ticket. Domestic violence, DUI? Yes, they should be.

America has enough criminals and doesn't need more.
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ohio jones
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Re: Refugees and Immigration: What does good look like?

Post by ohio jones »

Several posts have been moved to Briar Patch, and only because there is no Briar Patch: Politics. The thread is headed for Politics if the discussion of US immigration policy does not end now.
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barnhart
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Re: Refugees and Immigration: What does good look like?

Post by barnhart »

The title of this thread is an appeal to the ethics of immigration but I didn't see a lot of discussion about God's perspective on it. In some sense this thread reminds me of a discussion on just war theory, it starts from the perspective that Jesus' sheep should be in control of such things.

The narratives I see in scripture that might relate generally come from two categories first, the assumption that God's people will be those being pushed around by powerful forces, not controlling the movement of others and second, when God's people are blessed and settled they will encounter immigration and are morally bound to treat them well as that is a reflection on our king.
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mike
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Re: Refugees and Immigration: What does good look like?

Post by mike »

barnhart wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 5:48 pm The title of this thread is an appeal to the ethics of immigration but I didn't see a lot of discussion about God's perspective on it. In some sense this thread reminds me of a discussion on just war theory, it starts from the perspective that Jesus' sheep should be in control of such things.
100% agreed, and Bootstrap lost me with the first post by using the word "we." As an Anabaptist Christian, I choose not to exert control over these sorts of issues.
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joshuabgood
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Re: Refugees and Immigration: What does good look like?

Post by joshuabgood »

mike wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 5:57 pm
barnhart wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 5:48 pm The title of this thread is an appeal to the ethics of immigration but I didn't see a lot of discussion about God's perspective on it. In some sense this thread reminds me of a discussion on just war theory, it starts from the perspective that Jesus' sheep should be in control of such things.
100% agreed, and Bootstrap lost me with the first post by using the word "we." As an Anabaptist Christian, I choose not to exert control over these sorts of issues.
Would you exert influence?
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barnhart
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Re: Refugees and Immigration: What does good look like?

Post by barnhart »

joshuabgood wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 6:07 pm
mike wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 5:57 pm
barnhart wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 5:48 pm The title of this thread is an appeal to the ethics of immigration but I didn't see a lot of discussion about God's perspective on it. In some sense this thread reminds me of a discussion on just war theory, it starts from the perspective that Jesus' sheep should be in control of such things.
100% agreed, and Bootstrap lost me with the first post by using the word "we." As an Anabaptist Christian, I choose not to exert control over these sorts of issues.
Would you exert influence?
I would like to influence the narrative around immigration.
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mike
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Re: Refugees and Immigration: What does good look like?

Post by mike »

joshuabgood wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 6:07 pm
mike wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 5:57 pm
barnhart wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 5:48 pm The title of this thread is an appeal to the ethics of immigration but I didn't see a lot of discussion about God's perspective on it. In some sense this thread reminds me of a discussion on just war theory, it starts from the perspective that Jesus' sheep should be in control of such things.
100% agreed, and Bootstrap lost me with the first post by using the word "we." As an Anabaptist Christian, I choose not to exert control over these sorts of issues.
Would you exert influence?
Where would an Anabaptist even begin trying to influence civil government, and why, and how?
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mike
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Re: Refugees and Immigration: What does good look like?

Post by mike »

barnhart wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 7:02 pm
joshuabgood wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 6:07 pm
mike wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 5:57 pm

100% agreed, and Bootstrap lost me with the first post by using the word "we." As an Anabaptist Christian, I choose not to exert control over these sorts of issues.
Would you exert influence?
I would like to influence the narrative around immigration.
How would you like to do this?
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barnhart
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Re: Refugees and Immigration: What does good look like?

Post by barnhart »

mike wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 8:58 pm
barnhart wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 7:02 pm
joshuabgood wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 6:07 pm

Would you exert influence?
I would like to influence the narrative around immigration.
How would you like to do this?
Talking with people, treating immigrants around me with respect so others can see it in operation, pointing out (in a calm way) the beneficial history of immigration, work on learning a language spoken by immigrants...
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JohnH
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Re: Refugees and Immigration: What does good look like?

Post by JohnH »

barnhart wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 10:06 pm Talking with people, treating immigrants around me with respect so others can see it in operation,
That sounds good.
pointing out (in a calm way) the beneficial history of immigration, work on learning a language spoken by immigrants...
Why is it important to convince people immigration is beneficial? What if it actually isn’t?
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