Jesus, Mary and Joseph flee into Egypt
Jesus, Mary and Joseph fleeing into Egypt – (“Flight into Egypt” - Fra Angelico, 1451. Public domain).

Every Christmas season, countless nativity scenes appear around the world, showing Jesus as a fragile newborn surrounded by family, shepherds, and celestial beings. These nativity scenes are put up in town squares, churches, and other high traffic areas (and occasionally are modified in controversial ways). 

But when you read the biblical narratives closely, there’s an overlooked nativity theme with parallels to a hot button-issue of our own time: immigration. 

The holy family travels, relocates, flees, returns, and crosses territory not entirely their own.

So, a question arises: was Jesus an immigrant? And did he cross borders legally, or did he break some rules in the process? 

Let’s review some history. 

From Nazareth to Bethlehem

The Christmas story begins with a journey. According to the Gospel of Luke, Mary and Joseph leave their hometown of Nazareth because of a Roman census requiring subjects to register in ancestral areas. This was no cakewalk; traveling under Roman occupation meant navigating checkpoints, threats of extortion, banditry, and the whims of local officials. 

This journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem wasn’t immigration in the modern sense, as both towns were part of the same imperial system. But it could certainly be called forced migration under authority of the state. 

It was here in Bethlehem, according to the Bible, that Jesus was born. 

Flight Into Egypt: A Border Crossing Story

The Holy family flees into Egypt
The Holy Family fleeing to Egypt – (Jacob Jordaens, 1647).

After the birth of Christ, the story takes a dramatic turn. According to the Book of Matthew, King Herod – the leader in the region at the time – was shocked to learn of the birth of a new “King of the Jews.” Fearful of losing power, Herod ordered that Jesus be killed to prevent a potential usurper.

In response, the Holy Family fled urgently across the border into Egypt. Leaving Judea for Egypt could certainly be considered immigration, as Egypt was a separate province, with distinct government and cultural practices. 

Scholars also note that it reads like a classic asylum story: a vulnerable family, escaping a violent ruler, looks for refuge in a foreign land. In modern terms, we might say they fled religious and political persecution.

Whether one calls this “immigration,” “asylum seeking,” or “forced displacement,” the point is clear: Jesus spends his earliest years as a refugee. 

Did the Holy Family “Break the Law”?

This is where modern debates get messy. Some argue that because the ancient world lacked strict national borders, the Holy Family could not have been “illegal.” Others counter that crossing imperial boundaries without authorization was, in fact, regulated.

The truth is likely somewhere in between.

Ancient governments controlled movement primarily for taxation, labor, and military purposes (not national identity). “Illegal immigration” as a category did not exist. There were no passports, or visas, or even "nations" as we know them today. Yet, it’s possible that people who crossed borders to escape oppression were technically breaking other laws or decrees set by local authorities. And they almost certainly would be considered "undocumented" in some sense of the term.

So did Mary, Joseph, and Jesus “break the law”? Probably not – because the law itself was nothing like ours. But that doesn’t mean certain rulers (King Herod, for example) wouldn't have wanted to hurt or punish them. 

Jesus’s Adult Movements

Jesus’s travel stories don’t end after childhood. In fact, much of the Gospels take place on the road. He moves through Galilee, Judea, and Samaria, crossing ethnic, political, and religious boundaries.

Many of those crossings were culturally fraught. Samaritans were outsiders to Judean society, and vice versa. When Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan, his audience reacts not because of the kindness of the stranger, but because the stranger comes from “the wrong people.”

But again, this was a time before “immigration policy” was a thing – and there are no historical sources pointing to specific laws that Jesus broke by traveling to different lands. 

What It Means to Be an Immigrant

So, was Jesus an "illegal immigrant"? Well, not necessarily in the modern legal sense in which some may use that term today.

But Jesus’s life featured many journeys – he began his life as a brown-skinned baby fleeing political violence, and ended it as a poor teacher traveling from region to region. In doing so, he inevitably crossed borders – political, cultural, and religious – and ended up in places where he certainly wasn't welcome.

So, in a more general interpretation, Jesus was an immigrant. Whether he broke any rules in the process? Well, probably! His travels certainly weren't pleasing to many of the folks in charge. Just something to think about... We'll leave you with some of Jesus's own thoughts on the matter:

 “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” - Jesus Christ (Matthew 25:35)

80 comments

  1. Glenn Alan Hines's Avatar Glenn Alan Hines

    God seems to prefer outcasts of one kind or another. Lot was a pariah, Noah was a drunk, Moses was an exile, Jesus was a refugee and condemned criminal.

  1. Stephen A. Cunningham's Avatar Stephen A. Cunningham

    This was just plain dumb and a sad attempt to stir the political pot. Please do better.

  1. Walter J. Holbrook's Avatar Walter J. Holbrook

    What!!!!????

  1. Kathryn Ellen Lugo's Avatar Kathryn Ellen Lugo

    I Have No Words..Below This Space For Me To Voice My Feelings It Says... I Quote "Be Respectful And Constructive" "Criticize Ideas, Not People " "Avoid Profanity, Insults,And Derogatory Comments " I Have No Words💔 Praying For All Of Us🙇🏾‍♀️JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL🙌🏾HELP US LORD🕊🐑 I LOVE AND PRAY FOR YOU ALL EVERY DAY MY HUMAN FAMILY 🙇🏾‍♀️ONE LOVE ❤️‍🔥 ONE RACE HUMAN 🥰🫂 LIVE AND WALK IN PEACE...AS OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST🌌💋

  1. Rev. Donut's Avatar Rev. Donut

    Stop trying to justify illegal, illegal criminal aliens in the USA or for that matter any country by saying "Jesus" travelled.

    That's just stupid.
    Julio or Asdltj or Pierre or Qweerqoi or even Bubba, are not Jesus or Allah.

    They may float on water but they can't walk on water.

    Unless, they walk out on the frozen pond for a TikTok picture. .

  1. Bridget Kielas-Fecyk's Avatar Bridget Kielas-Fecyk

    If Jesus were to be born and come to the USA, the MAGAts would have him killed before he could go to the first church or speak his first sermon. If he were to walk across the oceans, for it stated in the bibles he could easily walk across the water without any troubles, and come here, they would be having coast guard attacking him.

  1. Shawn F. Orsini's Avatar Shawn F. Orsini

    How could Jesus be an illegal immigrant when his father GOD created the world it was Jesus oyster shell

  1. Tom Herman's Avatar Tom Herman

    This was a different day and age. To apply what we think was Roman law 2025 years ago to today's standards is ridiculous. To apply what we know of King Herod's Israel vack then lends itself to many unanswered questions. History teaches us King Herod directed the assassination of Jesus. Not knowing who he was he directed the killing of all new borns. Hundreds if not thousands of innocents were murdered. I can't imagine what went through the minds of those who put babies to death. They were the inquisition, gestopo or ICE agents of their day. I guess they believed they were following the law. Any parent would have done what was necessary to escape. We're there border patrols or immigration laws way back then? There probably were but the Bible teaches us the holy family was under the protection of Divine Providence. If you apply the same values of today to yesteryear, there are still many unanswered questions. Jesus returned to Nazereth. How come in a small town where everyone knows each other was his family not turned into Herod's authorities? Faith is never tied to historical fact. It's always good to get another's point of view. All aspects of history intrigue me. This kind of Biblical Archaeology is one of them. My advice is to be open to all points of view and decide when you think you have all the facts. For me, I hold off deciding on a number of things as I'm still waiting for the facts.

  1. Patrick M Dorr's Avatar Patrick M Dorr

    Two gospels, of Mark and John, did not think there was anything important about the birth story of Jesus and never mentioned it. Matthew told a story of bad man Herod, slaughtering of babies, 3 kings, high peril, fleeing the country to keep Jesus alive. Living in Egypt for years. Yikes. In Luke 2, after the birth, it said,"39. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him." There was no commotion or chaos, no kings from the east or valuable gifts, no slaughter, no fleeing, no living in Egypt. No one was trying to hurt their baby. They just went back home. The brief stories of the birth of Jesus were never referenced again in the New Testament. Acts, Paul, James, Peter, crickets. Read the two stories slowly and carefully. At least one of the two stories could not have been true.

  1. Roy S. Thorpe's Avatar Roy S. Thorpe

    Standard debate with the thumpers,benders, under educated, and uneducated making their comments! Every one has their own opinion and it soon sounds like the Tower of Bable! Jesus moved about trying to show people how to live and forgive to get to heaven! Instead of beating down ,lifting up is a better way to go!

  1. Steven Ferrell's Avatar Steven Ferrell

    It was not illegal to go from one area to another, as it was all under Roman jurisdiction. To try and compare it to illegal immigration’s today, is comparing apples to oranges.

  1. LORD RICHARD WELCH's Avatar LORD RICHARD WELCH

    Really? The Left says people crossing our border is OK and should be legal, and THEN, in this article the are excoriating Jesus for crossing borders? Really? Do you see the mental illness on display?

    1. Michael Hunt's Avatar Michael Hunt

      I didn't read this as an excoriation of Jesus for crossing borders, more a comparison of immigrants today to the way Jesus migrated through the Middle East. If anything, it's pointing out the hypocrisy, or at least attempting to, of the Evangelical right who are so anti-immigrant that some are against legal immigrants.

  1. Jimmy Moon's Avatar Jimmy Moon

    Was JESUS an Illegal Immigrant? Are y'all stupid or just mentally deranged? JESUS is the KING of KINGS. HE owns everywhere your foot lands. Illegal aliens are the ones PRESIDENT TRUMP is deporting now.

  1. David Edward Ramsey's Avatar David Edward Ramsey

    Borders are artificial. When herds migrate, there is no border patrol. Birds do not follow restricted airspace. Aquatic animals do not restrict themselves to only “International” waters. Unless I'm mistaken, both god and Jesus were strong proponents of free will. Remember to love one another. Please have a safe and peace-filled season. ♥️

    1. Dr. Zerpersande, NSC's Avatar Dr. Zerpersande, NSC

      Oddly enough our closest relatives, the chimps, have borders. And chimps patrol those borders. Intruders are killed. And I seem to recall that they expand their territories by killing females in adjacent territories.

      Sounds similar to humans, huh?

  1. Ari Joseph Bertine's Avatar Ari Joseph Bertine

    Even suggest that Jesus was an immigrant and watch the history, semantics, and legal experts come out of the woodwork as if they care about the subject. Anything to defend the hatred of a scapegoated group. Y'all must really need to hate someone.

  1. Joseph Grieco's Avatar Joseph Grieco

    How can you be an immigrant when every place he went was under control of Rome? Jerusalem? Roman Territory Samaria? Roman Territory Bethlehem? Roman Territory. Egypt? Roman Territory Even Nazareth in Galilee, although ruled by Hashmonean Kings, was still considered Roman.

  1. Joseph Grieco's Avatar Joseph Grieco

    The "immigrant" argument falls apart when you look at the geopolitics of the era. The Roman Empire, in the final decade of the 1st Century BCE, had total control of the lands around the Mediterranean Sea (Mare Nostrum - Our Sea). Yosef bar Yacob was a Galilean. Miriam bat Yoachim was from a Levite family that had High Priests in it. That, itself, implies her family was from the vicinity of Jerusalem. So the concept of Yosef being a poor carpenter kind of falls down, because there is no way a 1st Century BCE high ranking Levite family would have allowed their daughter to marry a poor man. Galilee was under the authority of the Hashmonean kings, who held power by sufferance of Rome. He directly reported to the Governor of Syria through whatever agents he had in Jerusalem. Egypt, where the family fled to, was under direct control of Rome. So, travelling from Galilee (Hashmonean control, courtesy of Rome) to Bethlehem (Roman Control) to Egypt (Roman Control) would be like travelling from Puerto Rico to Florida to Colorado. The entirety of their travel would be under Roman control. They would not be travelling alone, but with a caravan. As a Craftsman, Yosef would have had no problem travelling from place to place for work.

    1. Cheryl Pettijohn's Avatar Cheryl Pettijohn

      Consider reading the Book of Mary

  1. Frank Jockel's Avatar Frank Jockel

    The whooe trip to Bethlehem to do the census is BS. Nowhere in the Roman Empire were people required to relocate in order to be counted. The census was for tax purposes and you were counted where you lived.

  1. Dcn Ron Stubbs, BSc, MSc's Avatar Dcn Ron Stubbs, BSc, MSc

    It seems to me, this dialog is fruitless; it's like trying to convince a child the burners on a stove, that has recently been turned off, are still hot and the child shouldn't touch it, less he or she will get burnered. Generally speaking, unless a person's heart has been pierced by the Holy Spirit they will not understand why people have faith in Jesus Christ and his words.

    1. Dr. Zerpersande, NSC's Avatar Dr. Zerpersande, NSC

      Yeah, talking to any religiously delusional individual about their ‘beliefs’ is fruitless. It honestly reminds me a homeless lady I saw in New Orleans once. She walked around, pushing a grocery cart wearing a long black trenchcoat and a black motorcycle helmet. I went out to her to try to give her some money to help her and she tried to hit me with broken off radio antenna from a car. You can’t fix that level of crazy.

  1. Peter Senderowitz's Avatar Peter Senderowitz

    Jesus may not have been "illegal" but to many in his travels he was an " unwanted immigrant".

  1. John Alex Paxson's Avatar John Alex Paxson

    There was no "Immigration" system then. Things change along the way, and we must obey laws of the land. Illegal is Illegal, no way around it.

    1. Dr. Zerpersande, NSC's Avatar Dr. Zerpersande, NSC

      Total and absolute BS. Europeans came here and murdered the current inhabitants. They did so because they didn’t have laws. But settlers made agreements with indigenous people. That made it official. And then they broke those laws.

      People that want to say that now that THEY are here that THEIR laws make a difference would be laughably stupid if that didn’t mean one would have to laugh at the murder that went on for hundreds of years.

      YOU are the original illegal.

      1. John Alex Paxson's Avatar John Alex Paxson

        Everyone is the original illegal, I always say learn by your mistakes, some humans dwell on them and learn nothing.

        1. James Riggle-Johnson's Avatar James Riggle-Johnson

          What did we learn while slaughtering the Indians? And how did we move on? Today, they have reservations, but we move them or take away regions of those lands as it suits us. So, did we learn that contracts don’t matter? That we take what we want?

          1. John Alex Paxson's Avatar John Alex Paxson

            I learned plenty, but I cannot speak for everyone. Your comment is typical, and covers some, but not all humans. If "We", referring to the other ones, learned from "Their" mistakes, the world might be a better place. (But it is obvious that some never learn).

            1. Patricia Ann Gross's Avatar Patricia Ann Gross

              Spoken as someone who has benefitted from "their" mistakes, but takes no stake in correcting the wrong or ensuring it doesn't happen again (i.e. "I cannot speak for everyone" comment). That's also known as "white privilege." Speaking up for those who have been wronged is what will make this world a better place. We are all in this together. Either we committed the wrong, or benefitted/profited from it. I include myself in the "we."

              1. John Alex Paxson's Avatar John Alex Paxson

                Throughout history, everyone, white, black, red, yellow, tan, etc., has committed an atrocity, everyone has "Benefitted" in one way or another, and i am sure the good people of this world are speaking up to make this planet a better place. Everyone already knows they have committed a wrong and benefitted/profited from it. Including myself, but it may take a long time to right the wrongs we have done because of the evil that is hindering us.

              2. Patricia Ann Gross's Avatar Patricia Ann Gross

                John,

                Exactly. If WE aren't part of the solution, then we are part of the problem..

              3. John Alex Paxson's Avatar John Alex Paxson

                I agree 100%

          2. Dcn Ron Stubbs, BSc, MSc's Avatar Dcn Ron Stubbs, BSc, MSc

            Comment removed by user.

  1. Dr. Zerpersande, NSC's Avatar Dr. Zerpersande, NSC

    All of this to prove what is already known…the conservative right is wrong and is filled with religiously delusional, hateful, hypocritical racists.

    What’’s that quote from Home Alone?

    “Merry Christmas you filthy animals.”

    1. Sir Lionheart's Avatar Sir Lionheart

      I’m so sorry you see things that way about many fellow citizens that don’t support your view, many of which served their country. Delusion can be so cruel at times, even for uneducated doctors. May you have a wonderful festive season filled with abundant love. 🤗

      🦁❤️

      1. Patricia Ann Gross's Avatar Patricia Ann Gross

        So, you support, if not worship, a person whose Christmas greeting went out to all the "filthy scum" that disagree with him. This is the person that represents the best of the best in our country and is supposed to be a role model for our children. How would you respond if your children said something like that? Remind me again, which one is delusional?

        1. Sir Lionheart's Avatar Sir Lionheart

          Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, it’s called freedom of speech. Would I use that type of language? No! But many others do, such as Robert De Niro, who never holds back on what he wants to say about President Trump. Neither did Rob Reiner who bemoaned President Trump moving his head when he was about to be assassinated. We all have things that we dislike about people, and what they say, but does that make them ineligible to run the country? Only time will tell. 3 more years to go!

          The only person I worship is my beautiful wife. 🤗

          🦁❤️

          1. Patricia Ann Gross's Avatar Patricia Ann Gross

            Sir LH,

            If I had said things like he's said when I was a kid, I'd still be spitting out the soap 60+ years later. Does that disqualify him from office? Legally, no, but neither does 34 felonies. Human decency is another story. What distresses me is that his midnight locker-room tweets, and adolescent insults are considered acceptable by so may people. You said you wouldn't say things like that, but you support his right to belittle people with disabilities, call a female journalist a cow, and consistently tell anyone who disagrees with him that they are stupid and horrible people. Even free speech is supposed to have consequences when they cause harm or distress, but people keep letting him get away with it. He's a bully. Plain and simple. If you're okay with that, it says more about you than you realize. That enough people are okay with that to cast a vote for him says more about our country than I ever wanted to know.

  1. Bishop William Dusenberry, DD's Avatar Bishop William Dusenberry, DD

    In my Secular Humanist Pantheist (SHP) denomination of the Universal Life Church, we know that because all Christian Mythology should be evaluated in much the same manner as Greek, Roman, Hebrew, Norse and all the other mythologies, that the Jesus myth, as it applies to those “wandering around” becomes true or false depending on the historical sophistication of the beholder. Jesus can be likened to Zeus in this regard. Hopefully these facts will be helpful, to those still at the mythological stage of their epistemological inquiries.

    1. Edward D Torres's Avatar Edward D Torres

      We have Roman Historian Josepheus and Tacitus that wrote of the Resurrection of Jesus. Plus Pontius Pilot letter to Ceasar. We are World history the Alpha and the Omega

      1. Sir Lionheart's Avatar Sir Lionheart

        No contemporary historians during the lifetime of Jesus ever wrote about him. Don’t you find that kinda weird?

        Josephus (AD37-100) and Tacitus (AD56 - 117) were both born after the supposed death of Jesus, and so obviously never met him. Everything they wrote was obviously here-say and cannot be used as real evidence.

        There are no surviving original letters from Pontius Pilate to anyone. Any manuscripts which do exist have been considered forgeries.

        https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/55335/authenticity-of-the-pontius-pilates-letter-to-tiberius-caesar#:~:text=There%20are%20no%20surviving%20original,forgeries%20or%20much%20later%20copies.

        🦁❤️

  1. Colleen McAllister's Avatar Colleen McAllister

    This article was useless. It neither gives a conclusion or cites references. And truthfully, applying modern beliefs to ancient practices is foolish.

    All that really matters is that Jesus came and will come again.

    1. Sir Lionheart's Avatar Sir Lionheart

      Just how truthful are references that you ask for? You might not believe them if he gave them to you, so why ask for them?

      You made a claim that Jesus will come again. You actually don’t know that for sure, yet you will claim your references are in an old book that was written by a host of people that didn’t know where the sun went at night, and believed the earth was the center of the universe. I won’t even mention anything about a Unicorn, a talking Ass, and Snake…….which I guess I just did. They are mentioned in that old book you would reference as a book of truth. 🤭

      🦁❤️

      1. James Riggle-Johnson's Avatar James Riggle-Johnson

        I wish I lived in the times that Ogres and Donkeys were friends, and went on adventures together. Lol

        1. Sir Lionheart's Avatar Sir Lionheart

          Yes, the Book of Enoch, and Gospel of Thomas, have some fascinating insights that were not approved as canon by the first church. They cherry picked which books they wanted to believe in that suited their narrative. By all accounts, Jesus was quite a naughty little boy from age 5. The early church obviously decided to ignore his childhood until age 12. Perhaps they didn’t want anyone to know he was quite a naughty little rascal, like most young boys are. 🤭

          🦁❤️

      2. John Alex Paxson's Avatar John Alex Paxson

        Depends on your beliefs. No person on this planet, or anywhere else for that matter, can prove, without a reasonable doubt (FACT), that what they believe in is truth. The only way to find out, is to exit this existence.

        1. Sir Lionheart's Avatar Sir Lionheart

          We might not find out even when this life is over. There could just be nothing, much like there appears to be nothing before this life, unless of course you have a remembrance of some life before this one.

          🦁❤️

          1. John Alex Paxson's Avatar John Alex Paxson

            If there is nothing, then we will learn nothing.

            1. Sir Lionheart's Avatar Sir Lionheart

              Yes exactly. Let’s hope there is something after this life. Religionists will say they know there is, but in reality they don’t, they are hoping just like the rest of us. 🤷

              🦁❤️

    2. Brother Peter's Avatar Brother Peter

      Jesus is immortal because he is remembered. He "comes again" every time his name is spoken or he is prayed to. He isn't sitting on some cloud or on a neighboring planet just waiting to reappear. Our friends, the Bahai believe he already came. Who's to say they aren't right.

  1. Rev. MichaelRS's Avatar Rev. MichaelRS

    There is no debate. There cannot be, because, as the article points out, the "immigration system" as we know it today did not exist 2,000 years ago.... not even 200 years ago.

    I'm also pretty tired of those people trying to use scriptures to justify the presence of illegal aliens or allowing them to stay. Versus such as Leviticus 19:33-34 or or Matthew 25:42-45.

    There are NO verses in Scriptures that says you have to put up with foreigners breaking the laws of your country. Particularly there is no Scripture excusing them breaking the law to get into your country in the first place.

    In fact Leviticus 24:22 enjoins foreigners to respect the laws of the country they are in. Make what you will out of Romans 13:1-7.

    God believes in borders. There are several verses which anyone can look up for themselves related to the fact that He established them for israel. If borders mean nothing why even establish them?

    In Matthew 22:21 Jesus tells us that we are to render under the seizure the things that are seizures and unto God and things that are God's.

    In that regard God Himself has very strict immigration laws when it comes to getting into Heaven. Entry control to heaven is something that belongs to God.

    Having entry control to their various Earthly domains is something that belongs to "Caesar"; Man.

    So trying relate Jesus (the Son of God whose life was following God's plan) and his family to modern day illegal aliens is just silly.

    And I say illegal aliens because they are not "immigrants". Breaking into a country no more makes you an immmigrant" than breaking into somebody's house makes you part of their family.

    1. Reverend Paula Copp's Avatar Reverend Paula Copp

      Wow… just… wow. How very christian of you.

      1. Brian Hand's Avatar Brian Hand

        Cry us a river. Then try to part it. If every country doesn’t start enforcing their borders, laws & protecting themselves then we will all be eradicated by the muzzies & the whole world will be a pedophile following cesspool.

    2. Dr. Zerpersande, NSC's Avatar Dr. Zerpersande, NSC

      ‘Breaking into a country’ doesn’t make you an immigrant? More of an invader. Especially when you murder the inhabitants of that country, huh?

      Kind of like the way the United States was formed? Except once they did it they made ’laws’ to prevent anyone else from doing what they did. No, not prevent what they did. To prevent anyone from coming in at all. Because they claim it as theirs.

      That’s a crock.

    3. Patricia Ann Gross's Avatar Patricia Ann Gross

      Rev. MichaelRS,

      First, the responses (at least mine) about Jesus and immigration have only been in response to people denying that Jesus never said anything about immigrants (which the article refutes nicely in its last sentence), and I pointed out he fled to Egypt right after birth, being one with those seeking refuge in a "friendlier" nation. The other scenario is when someone says, "Jesus never immigrated," but as the article and scripture, he clearly did, only in a different time when borders weren't so clear and immigration laws that did exist were entirely different than today.

      Second, you said, "There are NO verses in Scriptures that says you have to put up with foreigners breaking the laws of your country." Why single out the foreigners? There are also no verses that say we have to put up with ANYBODY breaking the laws of our country. Were you aware that there are more crimes committed by American citizens than illegal immigrants? This is especially true of the most heinous of the crimes, like pedophelia, rape, and murder. If you are going to say that everybody who comes across the border is one of these you have already drunk the Kool-Aid and need to switch to another news channel.

      I'm not one who thinks everyone that comes here has nefarious intentions, as I have known many people on VISAs and Green Cards that were decent hard-working people trying to make a life and raise a family in a country different than where they were born. No more. No less. Are there bad actors out there? Certainly, but you have to realize that for every immigrant than commits a "worst of the worst" crimes out there, there are probably 10 or more American citizens committing the same crime. Each one deserves to be arrested, adjudicated, and if found guilty, to pay the consequences. There is no "natural born citizen" pass. There is no "lily white man billionaire" pass. There is no "err on the side of ..." There is no person where the benefit of due process can be bypassed. When the constitution says, "no person," it means "no person." That is how ouor judicial system is supposed to work.

      1. Brian Hand's Avatar Brian Hand

        No person refers to legal citizens. Illegals or foreigners should not get the benefit of our laws & protections because they don’t belong here & already broke the law. Writings from prior to the 20th century are irrelevant.

        1. Patricia Ann Gross's Avatar Patricia Ann Gross

          Even though the Constitution was written in the 18th Century, the Civil Rights Amendment and Laws were added in the 20th Century, and there are may other laws that the Supreme Court has ruled that the document AS WRITTEN still applies. All people, means all people are innocent until PROVEN guilty, so arrest and punishment without due process is ILLEGAL. The only exception I am aware of is to the birth-right citizenship amedment where children of foreign diplomats here on a diplomatic assignment are exempt from birth-right citizenship. The bill of rights (amendments 1-10) stays intact. ALL PEOPLE.

        2. Michael Hunt's Avatar Michael Hunt

          So the US Constitution, written back in the 18th century, is irrelevant then? You just get to make up the rules and laws now?

          No person refers to all people within the borders of the USA. That means citizens, documented immigrants, and undocumented immigrants. If you break the law, it does not mean you no longer have the rights afforded to you by the constitution.

    4. Paul Andrew Breda's Avatar Paul Andrew Breda

      First, RevMichaelRS, I hope you are not the spiritual leader of a church. A Grand Wizard, I would understand.

      My country was formed (violently, as someone else has pointed out) by people who were fleeing something, seeking something or both. Westerners saw no problem with this - they were pursuing their inalienable rights to a good and happy life. We admire their courage and desire to make a better life for themselves and their families (we either overlook the violent part, or uphold that as another example of courage in the face of adversity).

      I really struggle how we would look at asylum seekers at our border any differently. The VAST majority of them are simply seeking to live and raise families in safety and a chance at life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. To me, that makes them as American as you or me, regardless of arbitrary borders and laws.

    5. Donald G Magel's Avatar Donald G Magel

      God, nor the Bible never mentioned motorized vehicles or this infernal Internet! Not a sacred word!

  1. David Cuevas's Avatar David Cuevas

    Back in that time travelers of other countries were called Pilgrims.

    Now there called illegal immigrants, migrants, illegal aliens or terrorists.

    1. John Alex Paxson's Avatar John Alex Paxson

      Times have changed since then, but now, illegal means exactly that. Not migrants, not aliens, but illegal humans who do not follow rules and laws of different countries.

      1. Michael Hunt's Avatar Michael Hunt

        No human is illegal. What you're doing when you say that is othering and diminishing another group of people so that they are viewed as less-than human.

        1. John Alex Paxson's Avatar John Alex Paxson

          I do not think you know what I mean. I do not use the word "People", I use Human, because that's what we are. If you cannot understand what I mean, please ask someone else who understands.

          1. Michael Hunt's Avatar Michael Hunt

            I'm pretty sure I understand you perfectly. If you replace "people" in my comment with "humans", my point and sentiment remains the same.

            You're calling undocumented immigrants "illegal humans" which suggests they are a lesser, undesirable human being.

            If I'm still misunderstanding, you'll need to be less cryptic.

            1. John Alex Paxson's Avatar John Alex Paxson

              Sorry, I do not mean a less desirable human being, I call all law-abiding citizens of any, neighborhood, city, state, country, a human, because that's what I recognize everyone as.

              1. Patricia Ann Gross's Avatar Patricia Ann Gross

                So if "illegal" does not mean "less desirable" what's the problem, or what do you REALLY mean?

              2. John Alex Paxson's Avatar John Alex Paxson

                Illegal= Against the law of a country where you presently are at. Simple, Eh??

              3. Patricia Ann Gross's Avatar Patricia Ann Gross

                But does that make them "less than" [human]? That was the question.

              4. John Alex Paxson's Avatar John Alex Paxson

                Nobody said Illegals were less human than anyone else. Illegal refers to actions that are not allowed by law or violate legal statutes.

              5. Michael Hunt's Avatar Michael Hunt

                But when you call someone an "illegal human" you are othering them, creating an "us vs them" mentality that leads to the demonization and marginalization of the othered group.

              6. John Alex Paxson's Avatar John Alex Paxson

                Not from my neighborhood, Illegal human means actions that are not allowed by law or violate legal statutes. I guess you could create an "Us=meaning law abiding, and them=lawbreakers, and demonize all humans that do not follow rule of Law! (Remember, I use the word "Human" to describe, people, citizens, members, etc.)

              7. Michael Hunt's Avatar Michael Hunt

                Most people who are undocumented and living in this country entered through legal means and have tried to legally immigrate but have been denied the ability to do so, despite the significant contributions they make to our communities.

                Calling them illegal allows you to view them as an enemy to be marginalized.

              8. John Alex Paxson's Avatar John Alex Paxson

                illegal human means actions that are not allowed by law or violate legal statutes. And that also means you must be documented. As for being the enemy to be marginalized, don't be so dramatic. All rules were meant to be followed, (Illegal and undocumented included). No matter how good of a person you are or how significant your contributions are, you must follow laws, rules, and regulations of anyplace you inhabit, whether it's on this planet or another.

  1. Edward D Torres's Avatar Edward D Torres

    Jesus was an Alien not of this world

    1. Edward D Torres's Avatar Edward D Torres

      Jesus is a Kingdom on Earth.

      1. Dr. Zerpersande, NSC's Avatar Dr. Zerpersande, NSC

        Sometimes the things that religiously delusional individuals say make one laugh.

      2. Sir Lionheart's Avatar Sir Lionheart

        Thanks for adding some humour, Edward.🤭

        🦁❤️

    2. Rev. Alyssa Cutler, Spiritual Healer's Avatar Rev. Alyssa Cutler, Spiritual Healer

      Now that's an interesting theory!

  1. Nicholas J Page's Avatar Nicholas J Page

    Of course he wasn't Jesus's the son of God and The big man would not do anything like that.

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