What Should Christians Think About I.C.E., Immigration, and the Government?

A lot of Christians right now are confused, anxious, and even angry about what's happening with immigration enforcement in our country. And I get it. The images are hard to see. The stories are emotional. The social media posts are overwhelming. But here's what I want to say to you today: your feelings are not your guide. Scripture is. And if we're going to think biblically about this issue, we need to step back from the noise, turn down the emotional manipulation, and ask a different set of questions. Not "How does this make me feel?" but "What does God's Word actually say about government, law, borders, and our responsibility as believers?" Because here's what's happening right now: emotional outrage built on half-truths, lies, and unscriptural worldviews is leaving people thinking it's justified to riot and incite violence against the very people whom God has appointed to keep our communities safe and to uphold the law. And if we as Christians don't know how to think biblically about this, we're going to get swept up in the chaos. So today, we're going to walk through what Scripture actually teaches. And by the end, I'm going to show you a perfect example of how the media is manipulating your emotions with a story you've probably already seen. Because the truth matters. And you deserve to know it.

Why This Conversation Matters

Before we go any further, I need to be clear about why we're even talking about this. This is not a political video. This is not about defending a party or attacking a party. This is about discipleship. Because right now, I'm watching Christians get discipled by Instagram stories, TikTok videos, and cable news commentary instead of by the Word of God. And when that happens, people start making decisions based on emotion instead of truth. They start justifying sin because they think the cause is righteous. They start calling evil good and good evil because the narrative sounds compassionate.

And what's happening right now is that emotional outrage—fueled by incomplete information, selective framing, and flat-out lies—is leading people to believe that it's okay to attack law enforcement officers. To vandalize property. To disrupt communities. To treat the people God has appointed to enforce the law as if they are the enemy. And brothers and sisters, that is not okay. That is not biblical. And we need to be grounded enough in Scripture to recognize it when we see it.

So that's why we're talking about this. Not because I want to wade into politics. But because the church needs clarity. And clarity only comes from the Word of God.

Why Christians Are Confused Right Now

So why are so many believers struggling with this issue right now? Because we're being discipled by our feeds more than we're being discipled by the Word. We're watching curated clips. We're reading emotional headlines. We're absorbing narratives that are designed to make us react, not think. And when you react instead of think, you end up confused. You end up parroting talking points instead of standing on Scripture. You end up more shaped by your political tribe than by the kingdom of God.

And here's the other problem: we've been conditioned to believe that compassion and law are opposites. That if you care about people, you can't care about order. That if you believe in borders, you must not believe in love. But that's a false choice. It's not biblical. And it's not true. The Bible teaches us that God is both just and merciful. That He established order and also calls us to compassion. We don't have to pick one. In fact, we can't pick one. Biblical maturity means holding both in tension, with clarity and conviction.

The Biblical Role of Government

So let's start with the foundation. What does the Bible say about government? Romans 13:1–4 gives us the clearest teaching on this:

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil." (Romans 13:1–4 NKJV)

Paul is saying something really important here. Government is not an accident. It's not a necessary evil. It's instituted by God. And it has a specific role: to punish evil and protect good. That's the sword Paul is talking about. Not necessarily a literal sword, but the authority to enforce law, to establish order, to maintain justice. Government exists to create the conditions in which people can flourish under the rule of law.

Now, does that mean every government does this perfectly? Of course not. We live in a fallen world. But the principle stands: God designed government to enforce law and maintain order. And that includes the authority to define and defend borders.

Borders and Law in Scripture

Let me say this clearly: borders are biblical. Nations are biblical. The idea that boundaries and laws are somehow un-Christian is just not true. God Himself established the boundaries of nations. Acts 17:26 tells us that God "has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings." He set the nations in place. He gave them territories. He established order among the peoples of the earth.

And throughout Scripture, we see nations with borders, laws, and systems of governance. Israel had borders. They had laws about who could enter, who could dwell among them, and what the expectations were for sojourners and foreigners. This wasn't cruelty. This was order. This was wisdom. This was the way God designed human society to function.

So when we talk about a nation enforcing its immigration laws, we're not talking about something that contradicts Scripture. We're talking about something that reflects the biblical principle of order. Laws exist for a reason. And when a nation enforces those laws, it's exercising the authority God gave it.

Section 4: Legal Reality vs Emotional Claims

Now, I know some people are saying, "But these people didn't do anything wrong. They're not criminals. They just came here looking for a better life." And I understand the heart behind that statement. But we have to be honest about the facts. Entering the United States without legal authorization is, by definition, a violation of federal immigration law. Specifically, 8 U.S. Code Section 1325 states that any alien who enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers, or eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers, or attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact, shall be fined or imprisoned. That's not a political statement. That's federal law.

Does that mean every person who crosses the border illegally is a dangerous criminal? Of course not. Many are families. Many are desperate. Many are fleeing terrible situations. But desperation doesn't change the law. And compassion doesn't require us to deny reality. You can care deeply about people and still acknowledge that laws have been broken. Those two things are not in conflict.

And here's where Scripture actually speaks directly to this. Proverbs 6:30–31 says:

"People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving. Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; he may have to give up all the substance of his house." (Proverbs 6:30–31 NKJV)

Do you see what's happening here? The Bible acknowledges that there can be understandable motives for breaking the law. A person steals because they're starving. We understand why they did it. We don't despise them for it. But understanding the motive doesn't eliminate the consequence. The law was still broken. Restitution is still required. The reason behind the action doesn't erase the reality of the action.

The same principle applies here. We can have deep compassion for why someone would cross a border illegally. We can understand the desperation, the poverty, the violence they're fleeing. But understanding the motive doesn't change the fact that the law was broken. And when a government enforces the law, that's not an act of cruelty. It's an act of governance. Now, how it's enforced matters. The manner, the dignity, the process—those things matter. But the enforcement itself is not immoral. It's what governments are authorized by God to do.

The Christian's Responsibility Toward People

So does that mean we just shrug our shoulders and say, "Not my problem"? Absolutely not. Jesus was clear about our responsibility to care for people in need. Matthew 25:35–40 says this:

"For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'" (Matthew 25:35–40 NKJV)

This is a command. Not a suggestion. Not a nice idea. A command. Christians are called to see people, to serve people, to show dignity and compassion to those who are vulnerable, suffering, and in need. That doesn't change based on someone's legal status. It doesn't change based on their country of origin. It doesn't change based on politics. If someone is hungry, we feed them. If someone is a stranger, we welcome them. If someone needs help, we help them.

But here's the key: this is the role of the church, not the role of government. The church exists to show mercy. The government exists to enforce law. Those are two different functions, given by God for two different purposes. And when we confuse the two, we end up expecting the government to act like the church, or expecting the church to act like the government. Neither works.

So yes, we are absolutely called to love, serve, and care for immigrants, refugees, and anyone in need. But that doesn't mean the government is obligated to suspend its laws. Both can be true at the same time.

Section 6: Discernment About Media Narratives

Now, here's where I want to call you to discernment. If you're watching the news right now and you're seeing emotional stories, dramatic footage, and outrage-driven commentary, I need you to ask yourself a question: have I seen this same level of outrage in the past? Because immigration enforcement didn't start this year. It didn't start with this administration. It's been happening for decades under multiple presidents from both political parties.

Let me give you the actual numbers. President Barack Obama formally removed 3 million noncitizens from the U.S. over two terms—more than any other president in American history, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security. In fiscal year 2013 alone, the Obama administration deported a record 438,421 unauthorized immigrants. In comparison, President Donald Trump removed about 1.2 million people during his first term. And in fiscal year 2024, under President Biden, ICE removed 271,484 people from the U.S.—an increase of nearly 90 percent from the previous fiscal year and surpassing the numbers during Trump's first administration.

Do you see what's happening here? The enforcement has been ongoing. The deportations have been happening under every administration. But the way the media frames it changes depending on who's in office. When one party is in power, enforcement is called necessary and lawful. When the other party is in power, it's called cruel and inhumane. Same actions. Different narrative. And if you're not paying attention, you'll get swept up in the emotional manipulation without even realizing it.

Proverbs 18:13 says this:

"He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him." (Proverbs 18:13 NKJV)

Don't answer before you've heard the whole story. Don't react before you've thought it through. Don't let your emotions be weaponized by people who have an agenda. Be wise. Be discerning. Be slow to speak and quick to listen. That's what Scripture calls us to.

And let me give you a perfect example of what I'm talking about. You've probably seen the story. A five-year-old boy at a school in New Mexico. ICE agents. A viral image. And millions of people across the country are outraged. The headlines say he was detained. The school superintendent called it unconscionable and said the child was being used as bait. Politicians are calling it kidnapping. Social media is exploding with anger.

But here's what actually happened. The child's father was wanted for illegal reentry after deportation and fled when ICE agents arrived at the school, leaving his five-year-old son behind. ICE agents did not detain the child but stayed with him to ensure his safety until a legal guardian could be contacted. ICE Deputy Director P.J. Lechleitner stated that officers remained with the child to ensure his safety until a legal guardian was contacted and could take custody of the child. The child's mother later picked him up from the school.

So let me be clear. ICE agents did not kidnap a child. They did not use him as bait. They did not detain him. They protected him after his father abandoned him and ran. They stayed with him to make sure he was safe. And then they made sure he got home to his mother. That's what happened. But that's not the story that went viral. The story that went viral was designed to make you angry. It was designed to make you see law enforcement as cruel. It was designed to manipulate your emotions so you would stop thinking and start reacting.

And this is happening over and over again. Stories are being framed in ways that leave out critical context. Images are being shared without explanation. And Christians are getting swept up in the outrage without ever asking, "Is this the whole truth?"

Holding Truth and Love Together

So here's where we land. The Bible teaches us that government has a God-given role to enforce law and maintain order. It also teaches us that Christians have a God-given responsibility to love, serve, and care for people in need. Those are not opposing truths. They're complementary truths. And we don't have to choose between them.

You can believe that a nation has the right to enforce its borders and also believe that every human being is made in the image of God and deserves dignity. You can support the rule of law and also open your home, your church, and your hands to serve those who are suffering. You can reject emotional manipulation and still have a tender heart toward the vulnerable. This is not a contradiction. This is biblical maturity.

The world wants to force you into a binary. They want you to pick a side, adopt a narrative, and get angry at the people who disagree with you. But we don't belong to the world. We belong to Christ. And He calls us to something better. He calls us to truth and love. Justice and mercy. Order and compassion. All of it. Together. Without compromise.

And I need you to understand something else. This isn't just about immigration policy. What we're seeing is an attack on God's order itself. On Sunday, protesters entered Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, disrupting a worship service by chanting and confronting congregants, including children. Three people have been arrested by federal authorities in connection with organizing the church disruption. And this isn't an isolated incident. Some churches have posted notices on their doors saying no federal immigration officers are allowed inside. Protesters are organizing outside of churches. They're targeting houses of worship.

Why? Because the church represents God's order. We represent the authority that God has established. We represent truth in a world that's drowning in lies. And when you stand for biblical truth, when you refuse to bow to the emotional manipulation and the false narratives, you become a threat to the chaos. You become a target.

So Christians need to understand what side of this narrative they really need to stand on. Are you going to be shaped by Scripture, or are you going to be shaped by the world? Are you going to stand on truth, or are you going to get swept up in the outrage? Are you going to be part of God's order, or are you going to join the mob that's attacking it?

The choice is yours. But understand what's at stake. This is about discipleship. This is about whether or not the Word of God is going to shape how you think, how you feel, and how you respond to the world around you.

So don't let the noise confuse you. Don't let the outrage control you. Stand on Scripture. Think biblically. Love deeply. And walk in the clarity and peace that only the Word of God can give.