Refugees - have they been a problem?

[JohnH]

It’s possible to both be kind to people you can’t communicate with yet simultaneously say we should expect people who want permission to enter and stay in America to be able to communicate adequately.

That is one perspective. But it again begs the question, Why didn't the English and Dutch and French learn Algonquian, Iroquoian, Siouan, and Muskogean when they came to the new world?
And why didn't they learn these new languages before coming to the new world? They could have.

Because they conquered and replaced the people already here instead of becoming part of them.

[Soloist]

It’s possible to both be kind to people you can’t communicate with yet simultaneously say we should expect people who want permission to enter and stay in America to be able to communicate adequately.

That is one perspective. But it again begs the question, Why didn't the English and Dutch and French learn Algonquian, Iroquoian, Siouan, and Muskogean when they came to the new world?
And why didn't they learn these new languages before coming to the new world? They could have.

Because they conquered and replaced the people already here instead of becoming part of them.

Wife: they should’ve at least finished the Navajo course in Duolingo first.

I know a a lot of people who do ESL classes once they get here, from Spanish or from Arabic/Farsi countries. I also know some people who got certified to teach that because it’s an awesome witnessing opportunity.

[JohnH]

That is one perspective. But it again begs the question, Why didn't the English and Dutch and French learn Algonquian, Iroquoian, Siouan, and Muskogean when they came to the new world?
And why didn't they learn these new languages before coming to the new world? They could have.

Because they conquered and replaced the people already here instead of becoming part of them.

Wife: they should’ve at least finished the Navajo course in Duolingo first.

I know a a lot of people who do ESL classes once they get here, from Spanish or from Arabic/Farsi countries. I also know some people who got certified to teach that because it’s an awesome witnessing opportunity.

Despite all the talk about “witnessing opportunities”, the net effect of mass migration is paganism becomes entrenched into the country. Mosques and temples go up and churches close.

It is reasonable to consider if the people groups desiring to migrate here would be open to an equal amount of migration from Christians, including proselytising and establishing churches in those countries.

[barnhart]

Europe has taken in a great deal of migrants but is not currently having “the most intense period of economic growth” it has ever seen.

This is the result of a management problem, not an immigrant problem.

I agree. The more the US slides into race essentialism or ethno-state nationalism, the more we will resemble Europe and experience their troubles. Immigrants into European states can never be French, German or English, only long standing immigrant guests. By contrast there has been the possibility of immigrating to the US and truly becoming "American" and belonging here as much as the next guy because that definition is not fixed. America is an idea, not an ethnicity, at least in the past. Now ... I'm not sure, the tides against are rising but we shall see. Count me firmly in the camp of those who mourn the slide into nationalism the race essentialism.

[Soloist]

If I moved to another country (which I did when I was 18), I expect to be looked down on and to permanently seem like a foreigner due to my lack of ability to communicate natively.

Wife: It’s cookies and fries, dude. Get it right.

I’m just being silly here. I noticed this and thought it was funny, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t some truth in your comment.

[Soloist]

Because they conquered and replaced the people already here instead of becoming part of them.

Wife: they should’ve at least finished the Navajo course in Duolingo first.

I know a a lot of people who do ESL classes once they get here, from Spanish or from Arabic/Farsi countries. I also know some people who got certified to teach that because it’s an awesome witnessing opportunity.

Despite all the talk about “witnessing opportunities”, the net effect of mass migration is paganism becomes entrenched into the country. Mosques and temples go up and churches close.

It is reasonable to consider if the people groups desiring to migrate here would be open to an equal amount of migration from Christians, including proselytising and establishing churches in those countries.

Wife: Yes, and that would be a great discussion for mennonet politics. Since I can’t do anything about policies, I’m just talking about what we can do with people that are already here.

[QuietlyListening]

Despite all the talk about “witnessing opportunities”, the net effect of mass migration is paganism becomes entrenched into the country. Mosques and temples go up and churches close.

It is reasonable to consider if the people groups desiring to migrate here would be open to an equal amount of migration from Christians, including proselytising and establishing churches in those countries.

Truthfully I have looked at this as God bringing the mission field to us believers in the US. What will we do with it? Complain, get upset or reach out?

[barnhart]

Despite all the talk about “witnessing opportunities”, the net effect of mass migration is paganism becomes entrenched into the country. Mosques and temples go up and churches close.

It is reasonable to consider if the people groups desiring to migrate here would be open to an equal amount of migration from Christians, including proselytising and establishing churches in those countries.

Truthfully I have looked at this as God bringing the mission field to us believers in the US. What will we do with it? Complain, get upset or reach out?

What would strangers and pilgrims do?

[JohnH]

Despite all the talk about “witnessing opportunities”, the net effect of mass migration is paganism becomes entrenched into the country. Mosques and temples go up and churches close.

It is reasonable to consider if the people groups desiring to migrate here would be open to an equal amount of migration from Christians, including proselytising and establishing churches in those countries.

Truthfully I have looked at this as God bringing the mission field to us believers in the US. What will we do with it? Complain, get upset or reach out?

I find the idea odd that the exisiting population of America wasn’t already a “mission field”.

[Bootstrap]

Seems to be in Tenessee.

https://archive.is/c0GBJ

The report found that a total of 21,648 charges were filed against illegal migrants among 11,344 cases between January 1 and December 31 of 2025, averaging nearly 1000 reports per month. However, there are likely even more because one county (Bledsoe) did not submit its data in time for the report to be filed.

Can you find me an official Tennesee government source for these statistics? As far as I can tell:

1. These statistics are not yet available for 2025 even for the general population, much less for subgroups, and
2. Tennessee does not record charges by immigration status.

But I could be wrong. I would love to see verifiable evidence for these claims if it exists. Clearly, a lot of viral claims turn out to be false. And the people creating these claims often have an obvious agenda.