The Christian Left, Immigration, and the End of Deportation
This post is the second in an Undone Doctrine series on immigration and theology. In part one, we looked at why immigration is such a critical issue for Jesus followers, and why the Christian left needs to prioritize immigration leading up to 2020.
It seems almost callous to concentrate on policy while the federal government is firing tear gas at families seeking asylum on the southern border. Yet the most direct way to stop the federal government's malicious treatment of migrants and refugees is to change the leadership of the federal government with a winning platform for 2020.
A winning platform constructs a vision that goes beyond repudiating Donald Trump. It would be easy for Democrats to run in opposition to all that 45 has said and done. It would also be a losing strategy. Sweeping change in 2020 will only come with steadfast commitment to concrete solutions, for it is only in the solutions that the progressive Left can be seen as a viable alternative to the xenophobic Right.
The road to solutions starts with ending deportation as we know it. According to Pew Research data, approximately 11.1 million undocumented immigrants live in the United States. Of these 11.1 million, approximately 340,000 were deported by the federal government in 2016, a number that is expected to increase under the Trump administration.
The fear of deportation is very real for the immigrant community. With one in three undocumented persons deported each year, it is only reasonable for them to live in a state of perpetual anxiety, particularly when ICE has made house-calls to their schools, neighborhoods, and restaurants. It should be noted that undocumented immigrants commit crimes at a staggeringly lower rate than American-born citizens.
Deporting 30% or more of undocumented immigrants might appeal to the alt-right, but it forces the nearly 700,000 others to accept unsafe and unfair working conditions, fearing that their boss might hand them over for deportation at any time.
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| Source: George Petras, USA Today |
37% of undocumented workers are paid less than the minimum wage. Businesses eager to take advantage of this large labor pool have all too eagerly taken advantage of under-the-table compensation agreements, creating a vicious cycle of wage depression for low-skill workers of all backgrounds. According to The Economist, the exploitation of undocumented immigrant labor has depressed the wages of unskilled American-born workers by 5% over a 20 year period. Undocumented workers, then, are not costing Americans their jobs - but low-skilled immigrants and Americans alike are taking home less in their paycheck.
This economic abuse can only end when the fear of deportation is lifted. A thoughtful immigration platform for 2020 should seek to end the practice of deportation as we know it. In 1995, the federal government deported just 10% of undocumented immigrants. Today, that percentage has tripled. Progressive policy should drive that number as close to zero as possible by only slating convicted felons for removal.
Wage exploitation of immigrants and wage depression of American workers will only cease when the fears of deportation dissipate, and undocumented workers can transparently participate in building the American economy.
But why should Christians concern themselves with ending deportation? As we looked at in part one, the Christian tradition from Abraham to Jesus to Paul is a tradition of aliens migrating to foreign lands. Put another way, God breaks into the world through the experience of migration, through the lens of diaspora. To build a wall is literally to keep God out. So if you truly want to keep Christ in Christmas this holiday season, maybe you should make room for one more wish at the top of your list: an end to deportation.
@ryanpanzer is a blogger on politics and theology. Like many Hillary supporters, he wants to see a taco truck on every corner. Like many Christians, he wants to see an end to draconian deportation practices.
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