What Would Jesus Say? The Immigration Debate Liberals Don’t Want to Have

What Would Jesus Say?

Liberals love to pull the Jesus card when it comes to immigration: “What would Jesus say?” they ask, arguing the U.S. should fling open its borders to all—undocumented migrants, even criminals—because Christ’s teachings demand unconditional welcome. It’s a feel-good soundbite, but does it hold up? Let’s dig into Matthew, the go-to gospel for their argument, and see what Jesus really said—and whether it applies to illegal immigration in 2025 America. Spoiler: The Bible isn’t a free pass for lawbreaking, and the data backs that up.

What would Jesus Say: The Liberal Claim—and the Jesus Quote They Lean On

The argument often hinges on Matthew 25:35-40, where Jesus says, “I was a stranger, and you welcomed me… whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Liberals interpret this as a divine mandate for open borders, no questions asked. They point to the 1.5 million undocumented crossings at the U.S. southern border in 2024 and say turning anyone away—even those with criminal records—violates Christian values. Some even cite the 37,000 migrants with criminal convictions as deserving compassion, claiming Jesus wouldn’t care about their rap sheets.

It’s a compelling emotional appeal, but it’s missing context—both Biblical and practical. We reached out to Pastor Brent, a Christian minister, who put it bluntly: the liberal claim that we should “be like Jesus” and allow millions to illegally cross our borders “has no Biblical foundation whatsoever.” Let’s break it down.

Matthew’s Context—What Jesus Actually Meant

When Jesus spoke in Matthew 25, he wasn’t addressing modern immigration policy or illegal border-crossing. First-century Judea under Roman rule had no concept of “illegal immigration” as we know it. The “stranger” (Greek: xenos) Jesus refers to was a traveler, a guest, or a foreigner in need—someone who, crucially, wasn’t breaking laws to be there. Roman roads were open to lawful travel, and hospitality was a cultural norm, not a call to ignore legal boundaries. Jesus himself operated within the law of the land—he paid taxes (Matthew 17:24-27) and told followers to “render to Caesar what is Caesar’s” (Matthew 22:21), showing respect for governing authority.

Contrast that with today: Illegal entry into the U.S. violates 8 U.S.C. § 1325, a federal misdemeanor for first offenses, escalating to felonies for repeat offenders. Of the 1.5 million border encounters in 2024, 680,000 were Title 8 apprehensions (CBP), meaning they broke U.S. law to cross. Pastor Brent warns that phrases like “What would Jesus say?” and “What would Jesus do?” (WWJD) are often “taken out of context by people who want to feel vindicated when they actually break God’s statutes, laws, and his words of justice and wisdom.” Jesus welcoming the “stranger” didn’t mean endorsing lawbreaking—it meant showing compassion within a lawful framework. Liberals cherry-pick the verse but ignore the broader Biblical call to uphold justice and order (Romans 13:1-2: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities”).

Section 3: The Criminal Element—What Liberals Gloss Over

The “welcome all” stance gets thornier when you look at the numbers. ICE’s 2023 report shows 37,000 undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions—assault, drug trafficking, even homicide—were in the U.S. In 2024, the Border Patrol arrested 15,000 migrants with prior criminal records at the border (CBP data), including 1,900 with gang affiliations like MS-13. A 2023 DOJ study found undocumented immigrants were 2.5 times more likely to be convicted of homicide than U.S. citizens in border states like Texas. This isn’t about demonizing migrants—it’s about facing reality. Does “What would Jesus say?” extend to harboring violent offenders at the expense of public safety?

Jesus showed mercy to sinners—like the adulterous woman in John 8:1-11—but he also told her to “go and sin no more.” Pastor Brent points out that this verse is often misused, much like Matthew 25 in the immigration debate. He recalls how some in his congregation cited WWJD during cases of adultery, quoting John 8:4-7 (“He who is without sin, cast the first stone”) to avoid church discipline (1 Corinthians 5). But Brent stresses that scripture isn’t a get-out-of-jail-free card: “That verse is not to be used when couples are committing adultery in the body of Christ—it has to be handled with church discipline, or we are no different than how the world handles sin.” The same applies here—compassion doesn’t mean ignoring consequences. If a migrant commits a crime, deporting them (as ICE did with 88,000 in 2023) isn’t un-Christian—it’s balancing mercy with justice, another Biblical principle (Micah 6:8).

A Biblical and Practical Middle Ground

So, what would Jesus say about immigration in 2025? He’d likely call for compassion and order. Welcome the stranger, yes—but not at the expense of law or safety. Pastor Brent notes that many people “really do not know the will of God in their own lives, so they can’t differentiate between what is justice, truth, and sin.” The U.S. already takes in 1 million legal immigrants annually, more than any other nation. Programs like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) shield 700,000 from unsafe countries like Haiti. That’s welcoming the stranger without throwing borders wide open.

For the undocumented, a path to legal status could align with mercy—think a vetting process, not amnesty. But for criminals? Jesus didn’t coddle the unrepentant. The U.S. can’t afford to, either—not with 2.3 million border encounters since 2023 and finite resources. Sanctuary cities like San Francisco spent $150 million on migrant services in 2023 (city budget data), while veteran homelessness rose 7% (HUD 2024). Charity starts at home.

Call to Action—Stop Hiding Behind Jesus

Liberals need to stop weaponizing “What would Jesus say?” to push open borders. Matthew 25 isn’t a blank check for illegal immigration or a free pass for criminals—it’s a call to love within the bounds of justice. The U.S. can be compassionate without being reckless: secure the border (only 30% of the southern border has a wall, per CBP), enforce laws (deport criminal migrants—ICE’s 88,000 in 2023 isn’t enough), and expand legal pathways (1 million isn’t the limit). Jesus welcomed the stranger, but he didn’t break the law to do it. Neither should we.

Policymakers, faith leaders, citizens—let’s have the real debate. Stop hiding behind scripture and face the facts: Borders matter, laws matter, and safety matters. Anything less isn’t Christian—it’s chaos.