Land to Bush: Southern Baptists want immigration laws enforced
- Mar 15, 2006 - comment
Richard Land told President Bush March 23 most Southern Baptists want the country’s immigration laws to be enforced before a type of guest-worker program is adopted.
The President discussed the controversial topic with Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, and 14 others at a White House meeting as debate over immigration reform intensified.
Various proposals have been offered to address the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in this country. Some include provisions to permit temporary guest-worker visas for illegal immigrants, while others focus on securing the borders to prevent the influx.
Bush favors strengthening border security but also supports a guest-worker program, positions he reiterated after his meeting with Land and the others while calling for a civil debate.
Land said he told the President Southern Baptists “are deeply offended at a very basic level when the government doesn’t enforce the law. And it’s clear that the government is not rigorously enforcing the law at the border or in the country when it comes to illegal immigration. As Southern Baptists, we believe that Romans 13 teaches the government is to punish those who break the law and reward those who obey the law.”
Land said he also told Bush, “Second, if it is felt that there needs to be comprehensive immigration reform and the laws need to be changed, then change the laws but rigorously enforce the law, whatever it is.
“Third, the overwhelming majority of Southern Baptists want the government to secure the borders. That does not mean sealing the borders but having control over who goes in and who goes out and making sure that everyone is doing so legally.
“And finally,” Land said, “if the government can convince Southern Baptists it is serious about controlling the borders, then I think a consensus can be built for some kind of guest-worker program that does not involve amnesty and that does not allow people who have come here illegally to jump place in line over those who are attempting to come into the country by the normal, legal channels.”
Bush “assured us in the meeting that he does not favor any program, guest worker or otherwise, that would grant any form of amnesty for those who entered the country illegally,” Land said. “Any guest-worker program would include the paying of fines and back taxes and not allow them to jump line for any kind of permanent legal status.
“All of us left the meeting understanding that the President cares very deeply about this issue, understands its importance to the American people and wants the federal government to approach solutions to this problem in a fair and equitable manner,” Land said.
Further Learning
Learn more about: Citizenship, Human Rights, Immigration