7 Biblical Principles about Immigration

I was recently challenged with a question about the Bible and immigration, and to answer the challenge, I looked up every occurrence of the words “stranger,” “foreigner,” and “alien” in the Bible.  The resulting list was fascinating to read, and in doing so, I discovered the following seven principles about immigration that are taught in Scripture.

1.    Israel was forbidden from oppressing immigrants.

The command to not oppress immigrants is one of the most often repeated commands in the Bible.  The term “oppress” had the same meaning in Bible times as it does today.  It literally means “to press against or weigh down,” and it refers to the practice of intentionally making someone’s life more difficult.  In the Bible, this term is almost exclusively associated with things like wages, money, and property (Lev 25:14-17, Deut 24:14-15, Prov 22:22, Hos 12:7, Mic 2:2, Mal 3:5, James 2:6).  Thus, when God repeatedly commanded Israel not to oppress immigrants, He was telling them not to make the life of the immigrant more difficult than it already is by weighing him down with financial burdens and restrictions.  God intended for the land of Israel to be a place of economic opportunity for immigrants.

• "Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt." (Exod. 22:21)
  
• "Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt." (Exod. 23:9)
  
• "And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God." (Lev. 19:33-34)
  
• "And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee." (Lev. 25:35)
  
• "Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt." (Deut. 10:19)
  
• "In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow." (Ezek. 22:7)
  
• "The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully." (Ezek. 22:29)
  
• "Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart." (Zech. 7:9-10)
  
• "And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts." (Mal. 3:5)
  
• "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." (Heb. 13:2)
  

2.    Israel was commanded to provide food for all the poor immigrants within her border.

God knew that the economic prosperity of Israel would be a huge incentive for the poor of other nations to immigrate to Israel, but instead of trying to prevent their immigration, God put in place a system to help poor immigrants and meet their needs.  First, He provided a guarantee that any immigrant who was willing to work would be able to provide food for his family.  God essentially required that the Israelites reserve an entire occupational category (gleaning) to be filled solely by the poor and the immigrants.  But God didn’t stop with the guarantee of work, He also commanded that the strangers be given food out of the tithe that was collected in Israel.  God intended for the people of Israel to welcome all immigrants with open arms even immigrants who would be an economic drain on their society.

• "And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God." (Lev. 23:22)
  
• "And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God." (Lev. 19:10)
  
• "At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest." (Deut. 14:28-29)
  
• "When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands. When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing." (Deut. 24:19-22)
  
• "And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you. When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;" (Deut. 26:11-12)
  
• "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:" (Matt. 25:35)
  

3.    Immigrants were to be under the same law and have most of the same rights as citizens.

There were very few limits placed on the rights of immigrants in the Bible.  For example, an immigrant was not allowed to be king over Israel (Deut 17:15).  For the most part, however, immigrants in Israel enjoyed the same rights and privileges as citizens, and God even made provision for immigrants to become naturalized citizens of Israel (Exo 12:48).  The idea that immigrants should be treated differently under the law was repugnant to God, and He expressly forbade the Children of Israel from doing so.  God intended for all of the immigrants in Israel to receive equal protection under the law.

• "Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God." (Lev. 24:22)
  
• "One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you." (Exod. 12:49)
  
• "And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land." (Num. 9:14)
  
• "And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; as ye do, so he shall do. One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD. One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you." (Num. 15:14-16)
  
• "And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them. But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people." (Num. 15:28-30)
  
• "And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God." (Lev. 19:33-34)
  
• "These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither." (Num. 35:15)
  
• "And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him." (Deut. 1:16)
  
• "Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:" (Deut. 24:14)
  
• "Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge:" (Deut. 24:17)
  
• "Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen." (Deut. 27:19)
  

4.    God gives immigrants the same level of care that He gives to orphans and widows.

I don’t know that a more beautiful and endearing promise can be found than the promise that God will be a father to the fatherless (Ps 68:5).  God’s commands for His people to care for orphans and widows are a result of the love and care that God Himself has toward those in that situation, and His commands for His people to care for immigrants also come from God’s love and care for those who find themselves living in a foreign country.  God intended for all those who follow Him to care for immigrants.

• "The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down." (Ps. 146:9)
  
• "When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matt. 25:38-40)
  
• "Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work." (1 Tim. 5:10)
  
• "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." (Heb. 13:2)
  
• "Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers" (3 Jn. 1:5)
  

5.    Both of the examples of denying entry to immigrants were condemned in the Bible.

I have only found two examples of closed borders in the Bible, and both of them are presented in a negative light.  The first was Edom’s refusal to let Israel cross through their land, and God added that offense to the tally of Edom’s eventual punishment.  In the second example, God used the closed borders of the Amorites to entice them into battle and destroy them.  Israel, on the other hand appears to have had open borders which were crossed often by both enemies and friends.  In all of the accounts of individuals and armies entering the nation of Israel, there is not a single record of anyone being challenged by a border patrol or customs official.  God has not given any indication that He approves of closed borders.

• "And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us: How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers: And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border: Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders. And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.  And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet. And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him." (Num. 20:14-21)
  
• "Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever:" (Amos 1:11)
  
• "And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not drink of the waters of the well: but we will go along by the king's high way, until we be past thy borders. And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel. And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong." (Num. 21:21-24)
  
• "Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle. This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee. And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying, Let me pass through thy land: I will go along by the high way, I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left. Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only I will pass through on my feet; (As the children of Esau which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites which dwell in Ar, did unto me;) until I shall pass over Jordan into the land which the LORD our God giveth us. But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land. Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz. And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people." (Deut. 2:24-33)
  

6.    God sees integration and birthright citizenship as a good thing.  

God’s ultimate goal in permitting unrestrained immigration in Israel was the salvation of the lost (I Tim 2:4, Isa 45:22).  Thus, the full integration of immigrants into the culture of Israel was viewed as a good thing, and the guarantee of birthright citizenship being implied by the phrase in the Law “one that is born in the land” was later explicitly declared to be the desire of God.  God intended for immigration to be used as a tool in His efforts to evangelize the lost.

• "And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof." (Exod. 12:48)
  
• "Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people … the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him." (Isa. 56:3-8)
  
• "And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD." (Ezek. 47:22-23)
  

7.    There was no distinction between legal and illegal immigrants in Israel.

I obviously don’t have any verses to support this claim, but that’s precisely my point.  I have done my best to read every passage of Scripture that references immigrants, and I have not found a single passage that makes a distinction between legal immigrants and illegal immigrants.  This discovery reinforces the claim that Israel had open borders, for surely, if God had intended for Israel to place restrictions on immigration, then He would have distinguished between those immigrants who entered in accordance with the law and those who entered in violation of the law.  God intended for all immigrants to be treated well regardless of the means by which they entered the land.