Illegal immigration - Apologetics Press | Bible Contradiction |

94 Pages·2009·2.87 MB·English

Illegal immigration
A Study of Hispanic Ministries in the United States
and the Responsibility of Christians to Government
Moisés Pinedo
Apologetics Press, Inc.
230 Landmark Drive
Montgomery, Alabama 36117-2752
© Copyright 2009
ISBN: 978-1-60063-028-6
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any
form without permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief
quotations.
All Scripture quotations are from The New King James Version of the
Bible, unless otherwise specified. Copyright © 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Some research sources are in Spanish, and have been translated for the
English edition of this book. In the list of references (beginning on page
81), a work’s original Spanish title will appear in brackets immediately
following the translation of the title.
about the author
Moisés Pinedo is a graduate of the Bible School of
the Americas in Panama. Born in Peru, he became a
naturalized citizen of the United States in August 2008.
Today he serves in the Spanish Department of Apolo-
getics Press, a non-profit organization dedicated to the
defense of New Testament Christianity. In addition to
his work translating A.P. materials into Spanish, he is
also the author of What the Bible Says about the Cath-
olic Church. Moises is married to Kimberley (Jordan).
They have three daughters: Melanie, Ella, and Kelsey.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication
Moisés Pinedo (1977 - )
Illegal Immigration: A Study of Hispanic Ministries in the United States and the
Responsibility of Christians to Government
Includes bibliographic references ISBN: 978-1-60063-028-6
1. International migration & colonization. 2. Religion 3. Constitutional & administrative
law. I. Title
325—dc22 PCN number
DeDICatIoN
To my wife Kimberley—the woman who
has been one of my greatest blessings
during the years that I have been “a
stranger…in a foreign land” (Exodus 2:22).
aCKNoWLeDGeMeNt
My thanks to Rhonda Thompson for her
valuable help in the translation of this
book into English.

CoNteNts
Illegal Immigration ..............................1
Definition of Terms .........................................2
Ways in Which an Alien Becomes
an Illegal Immigrant .......................................3
A Brief Background of the Problem .............4
The Immigration Laws of
the United States..............................................6
Immigration and Nationality Act ............7
The U.S. Code .............................................8
The Indirect Relationship of Other Laws
to the Problem of Illegal Immigration .........8
Traffic Laws .................................................8
The Employment Law ...............................9
Some Arguments in Favor of
Illegal Immigration .........................................10
“The law is not enforced” ..........................10
“It Is Not Possible to Control
Illegal Immigration” ..................................12
“Illegal Immigrants Also Pay Taxes” .......13
“Many Immigrate Illegally to
Find Security and Refuge” ........................14
“The World Belongs to Everyone” ...........15
Illegal Immigration and
Human Emotions ............................................17
The Responsibility of Christians to
Government .........................................19
The Old Testament ..........................................19
National Security .......................................20
Border Control ...........................................21
Deportation ................................................23
Immigration ...............................................24
Summary.....................................................26
The New Testament ........................................26
Acts 4:19; 5:29 ............................................26
“Render to Caesar the Things
that Are Caesar’s” .......................................29
“Unless It Had Been Given You
from Above” ...............................................30
“If I Am an Offender, or Have Committed
Anything Deserving of Death,
I Do Not Object to Dying” .......................31
“Let Every Soul Be Subject to the
Governing Authorities” ............................33
“I Wanted to Do Nothing
Without Your Consent” ............................34
“Repent and Be Converted” .....................36
“Do You Not Judge Those
Who Are Inside?” ......................................37
“Let None of You Suffer
as an…Evildoer” ........................................39
“Remind Them to Be Subject to
Rulers and Authorities” .............................41
“And to Him Who Knows to Do Good,
and Does Not Do It, to Him It Is Sin” .....42
Summary.....................................................43
Hispanic Ministries in the
United States ........................................45
The Dysfunctional Effects of Illegal
Immigration on Hispanic Ministries ............48
Dysfunctional Ministers ...........................48
Dysfunctional Congregations ..................49
Dysfunctional Families .............................50
Dysfunctional Relationships ....................51
Dysfunctional Christians ..........................52
What Is the Solution for
These Problems? ..............................................53
Information ................................................53
Location ......................................................55
Commitment ..............................................56
Conclusion ...........................................61
Appendix A: U.S. Immigration laws ......65
Immigration and Nationality Act ............65
U.S. Code ....................................................69
Appendix B: Other Laws Related to the
Problem of Illegal Immigration ............73
Traffic Laws
(California Vehicle Code) ..........................73
Employment Law
(Employment Law Guide) .........................74
Appendix C: Legal Thought ..................77
Appendix D: Recommendations on
Hiring Hispanic Ministers ....................79
References ............................................81

1
ILLeGaL
IMMIGratIoN
Illegal immigration, especially in the United States,
is a “caustic” subject. Many have raised their voices
to enthusiastically condemn illegal immigration,
while others defend it just as enthusiastically. A lot of
blood, sweat, and tears have been shed on this bat-
tleground, since those on both sides are ready to use
any available philosophical, psychological, and some-
times physical weapon to defend their viewpoints.
The battle is further complicated by politicians, with
their divided loyalties and policies. Even religion has
been drawn into the fray, to the point that supporters
of both sides of the issue seek to justify their positions
based on their beliefs. The Lord’s church has also been
affected. What should the church do? What is the bib-
lical approach to the problem of illegal immigration?
This study does not pretend to propose a course of
action that the government should take to minimize
or eradicate the problem of illegal immigration. For
that reason, you will not read possible “solutions” like
stricter enforcement of immigration law, more border
Illegal Immigration: A Study...
control, or an amnesty period. [It is my judgment that
the federal government is in the best position to judge
the course of action that should be taken to find solu-
tions to this problem, and obviously, it has the divine
authority to do so (Romans 13:1).] The following so-
lution is presented from a spiritual perspective, taking
into account the negative effects that illegal immigra-
tion often has on the work of the church. The main
purpose of this study is not to influence the govern-
ment but the church.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Before proceeding further, it is important to define
certain terms.
Alien: A person living in one country who is
a citizen of another country (see “Immigration,”
1988, 10:85).
Immigration: Webster’s Dictionary defines “immi-
gration” as the act of “immigrating,” from “immigrare,
to go or remove into:…to come into a new country,
region, or environment, esp. in order to settle there”
(Agnes and Guralnik, 1999, p. 713).
Immigrant: The person who completes the previ-
ously described action; an alien.
Illegal Immigration: The act of entering a country
without having the necessary authorization to reside,
temporarily or permanently, within its borders.