U.S. Immigration Law vs. the Law of God’s Kingdom

Tracie L. Klinke
Oct 15
2 min read

Updated: Oct 20

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Hope in Action with Tracie L. Morgan and Ashley Glimasinski | U.S. Immigration Law vs. the Law of God’s Kingdom

Romans 13 tells us to submit to governing authorities, yet Acts 5 declares we must obey God rather than human laws. This tension becomes particularly sharp when we consider immigration - where restrictive legal frameworks collide with our biblical mandate to love our neighbors as ourselves.

We explore what Scripture actually says about caring for the stranger and foreigner, looking into the biblical verses that speak to God's heart for immigrants. From the Old Testament principles of empathy, justice, and hospitality found in Leviticus and Exodus, to Jesus's radical expansion of these commands in the New Testament, we trace a consistent biblical thread that challenges many of our modern assumptions about borders, belonging, and who deserves our compassion.

Tune in this week to examine the balance between the law of the land and the law of God as they relate to immigration. We address common concerns about scarcity and safety, explore how current immigration policies often conflict with biblical values of human dignity, and offer concrete steps for living out God’s values.

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What You’ll Learn from this Episode about Immigration Law vs. God's Law:

How the Old Testament's five pillars for treating foreigners (empathy, justice, hospitality, provision, and inclusion) apply to modern immigration debates.
Why Jesus's identification with refugees and strangers in Matthew 25 transforms immigration from a policy issue into a spiritual and moral calling.
The biblical distinction between following human laws and obeying God's commands when they conflict.
Practical ways to advocate for justice while respecting the rule of law.
How current immigration enforcement priorities and detention practices challenge biblical commands to protect the vulnerable.
Why words like "illegal" and "alien" interrupt our ability to see the image of God in immigrants.
Specific actions you can take this week to extend grace and mercy to immigrants in your community.