Dear Editor,
I find your Comment in the April edition of en slightly disappointing.
There seems to be a general bias towards supporting the immigrant generally within the Christian press and against efforts to tackle the societal problem of illegal activity, abuse of the tax and welfare systems and fairness to all.
Tim Keller may translate the Hebrew word ‘gare’ (should be ‘ger’ according to the Jewish Orthodox translation) as an ‘immigrant’, but most Biblical translations define it as ‘stranger’ or ‘foreigner’, essentially referring to people who are in a land that is not theirs. The Biblical directive in this context is not to oppress strangers or foreigners. I do not suppose that many Christians could dissent from this directive. Kindness to everyone we come across regardless of ethnicity and background circumstances is surely to be welcomed and Biblical.
However, this is not the same as encouraging the breaking of the law or abuse of the tax-funded State by any, including strangers.
Decades of attempting to ‘get to grips’ with immigration by political parties of different hues have clearly failed. ‘Workable agreements’ with European partners to help solve the problem have consistently failed (indeed it would sometimes appear that there is a disincentive to co-operate in this regard). Until the problem is tackled properly and people-trafficking stopped (and because of the abuse over many years this may unfortunately now take more stringent measures), the system is going to remain problematical and an increasing contributory cause of societal strife.
As Christians do we not have a duty to all citizens, not just strangers? Is it fair (and therefore to be supported) for indigenous citizens to feel somewhat overwhelmed, overlooked and at times ‘pushed to the back of the queue’? Could the billions not be spent more productively elsewhere for the betterment of society? Justice for all needs to be done and seen to be done.
If it could be generally and clearly seen that genuine asylum seekers (fearing for their lives and safety) and not economic migrants (in search of a ‘better life’) were being protected and reasonably aided by the State/taxpayer then society’s unease at the prevailing situation may markedly abate and those in genuine need be more speedily supported. I believe that this is a reasonable Christian view, is it not?
I appreciate you stating your repugnance at people-trafficking but, with respect, I would have preferred a more overall balanced comment on the problem to have been made.
Yours sincerely,
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