Just Immigration: American Policy in Christian Perspective

by Mark R. Amstutz

Overview

Few issues are as complex and controversial as immigration in the United States. The only thing anyone seems to agree on is that the system is broken. Mark Amstutz offers a succinct overview and assessment of current immigration policy and argues for an approach to the complex immigration debate that is solidly grounded in Christian political thought.

After analyzing key laws and institutions in the US immigration system, Amstutz examines how Catholics, evangelicals, and main-line Protestants have used Scripture to address social and political issues, including immigration. He critiques the ways in which many Christians have approached immigration reform and offers concrete suggestions on how Christian groups can offer a more credible political engagement with this urgent policy issue.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802874849
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	05/01/2017
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Mark R. Amstutz is professor of political science at Wheaton College. His previous books includeEvangelicals and American Foreign Policy and International Ethics: Concepts, Theories, and Cases in Global Politics.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

1 Morality, Law, and US Immigration Policy 1

The Need for Immigration Reform 5

Historical Roots of America's Ambivalent Immigration Policy 8

Christian Ethics and Immigration 12

2 The Rules of the Game 16

The Basic Elements of US Immigration Law 18

US Government Agencies Involved in Immigration 28

The Challenge of Legal Enforcement 37

3 The Immigration System in Practice 49

Strengths of the Current System 52

Shortcomings of the Current System 58

Confronting Illegal Immigration 69

4 Theories of International Migration 80

Alternative Paradigms of the International Community 81

Justice and International Migration 86

The Christian Faith and Immigration Reform Paradigms 96

The Contribution of Global Realism 103

The Moral Claims of Refugees 106

5 Christian Ethics, the Bible, and Immigration 110

Catholic Social Thought 111

Protestant Political Ethics 114

The Bible and Immigration 124

The Bible and Political Advocacy 131

6 The Roman Catholic Church and US Immigration Policy 134

The Catholic Church and Global Society 136

Catholic Social Thought and Migration 140

US Catholic Bishops and Immigration Reform 146

The Catholic Church's Contribution to the Immigration Debate 155

7 Evangelicals and US Immigration Policy 162

Evangelical Political Ethics 163

The Rise of Evangelical Political Engagement on Immigration 167

Evangelical Teachings on Immigration 170

Evangelical Advocacy of Immigration Reform 179

Assessing Evangelicals' Political Advocacy 185

8 Other Protestant Churches and US Immigration Policy 190

Protestant Religion and American Society 191

Mainline Political Ethics 194

Mainline Protestantism and US Immigration 197

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Approach to US Immigration 207

9 Strengthening the Christian Witness on Immigration 215

The Challenge of Christian Political Engagement 217

The Ethics of Immigration Policy 219

Christian Ethics, Advocacy, and Immigration Reform 224

Developing a Christian Perspective on Immigration 230

Teaching Christian Immigration Ethics 233

Bibliography 240

Index 251

Editorial Reviews

★ 03/13/2017
In this meticulously researched study, Amstutz (Evangelicals and American Foreign Policy), a political science professor at Wheaton College, explores complex ethical questions and imperatives surrounding the issue of immigration in the United States. Beginning with an overview of the basic elements of contemporary immigration policy, including key U.S. governmental agencies charged with adjudication and enforcement, Amstutz examines strengths and weaknesses of the current system, as well as difficulties resulting from conflicts among the president, Congress, and the Supreme Court. In addition to exploring ethical issues related to documented and undocumented immigrants, refugees, and children, Amstutz highlights the particular dangers resulting from “the toleration of a large segment of the population living in the shadows.” To address “the conflicting moral, legal, political and humanitarian dimensions of this issue,” Amstutz considers political ethics from Catholic, Evangelical, and Protestant perspectives, reviewing and critiquing recent policy recommendations and pastoral letters from mainline denominations, “in order to provide recommendations for strengthening their moral contribution to the policy debate.” Emphasizing the need for churches to describe “how Christian perspectives apply to the challenge of global migration,” Amstutz offers both cautions and concrete recommendations for faithful engagement, taking a moderately progressive stance. This thoughtful and clearly presented analysis offers rich material for churches to contemplate, opening the door for more balanced consideration of immigration reform. (May)

Publishers Weekly

Peter Wehner
—Ethics and Public Policy Center
"Just Immigration is an outstanding book—comprehensive, measured, fair-minded, and enlightening. It deals with a controversial issue in a sophisticated and nuanced way. In assessing the role of Christian churches in the contemporary policy debate over immigration, Mark Amstutz offers a thoughtful perspective on the subject. His Christian faith informs his politics without being distorted by politics. Anyone who cares about immigration should read this book."

Daniel Philpott
—University of Notre Dame
"Mark Amstutz brings realism and responsibility to the debate within the Christian church over immigration without relinquishing the church's proper and important role of moral guidance. At a time when the debate over immigration in the United States has reached a white heat, Amstutz's sober and faithful perspective offers us wise moral and political counsel."

Peter Feaver
—Duke University
"This is a learned, thoughtful, and fair-minded critique of the way Christians have engaged in the immigration debate. Amstutz points to a better way, one based on a sophisticated understanding of the interplay of international politics, global ethics, and the nitty-gritty of immigration policy. To a debate that has divided Americans of all faiths, Amstutz makes a timely and impressive contribution that offers a way to build a consensus grounded in careful theology and politics."

Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Meticulously researched. . . . Amstutz offers both cautions and concrete recommendations for faithful engagement, taking a moderately progressive stance. This thoughtful and clearly presented analysis offers rich material for churches to contemplate, opening the door for more balanced consideration of immigration reform."

From the Publisher