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As Sessions Announces That Trump Administration Will Officially Rescind DACA, Faith Groups UrgeThat Citizens and Legal Migration Are Prioritized

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced this week that the Trump administration would officially rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, delaying adjudication for six months, effectively allowing Congress to craft its own immigration legislation, according to CBS News.

While urging lawmakers to act carefully and swiftly, Sessions called the current program an unconstitutional overreach of executive authority that has caused many legal concerns.

The multi-faith group Faith Leaders for America (www.FaithLeadersforAmerica.com) authored a letter to President Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, encouraging them to take on recent challenges of immigration biblically and wisely. A copy of the letter was also sent to General Sessions.

“God loves all people, but when opinion and political correctness rule in both public office and in the pulpit, confusion and bondage results,” said Hon. Samuel Rohrer, former Pennsylvania state representative, pastor and president of the American Pastors Network. “When biblical truth is accurately and boldly preached, and Constitutional oaths are honored, civil liberty and God’s blessing remains.”

Other signers to the letter include David Barton, WallBuilders; Paul Blair, Reclaiming America for Christ; Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin (U.S. Army, Ret.), Family Research Council; Mark Christian, Global Faith Institute; Maria Espinoza, The Remembrance Project; E.W. Jackson, Exodus Faith Ministries; Jerry Johnson, National Religious Broadcasters; Kelly Kullberg, American Association of Evangelicals; Rick Scarborough, Vision America Action; and Aubrey Shines, International Communion of Evangelical Churches.

The letter reads, in part:

“While loving mercy, who will also stand for justice to those citizens who cannot find a job due to cheaper foreign labor? Who will speak of the real cost of illegal immigration to our states? And while many non-citizens are good neighbors, who will stand for justice for Americans victimized by people here illegally who do not uphold our values and laws? And who will prevent more needless crime and death?

“The Church is called to serve all people, and our government leaders are elected to defend and uphold the Constitution and the rule of law. Though there are tragic stories on every side of illegal migration, for our elected officials, responsibility to oaths must prevail. Law and order sustain stability and peace. A nation of wise rule grows strong enough to sustain care for the vulnerable in our midst.

“While some faith groups use selective Bible words for open borders and amnesty, we consider the whole counsel of Scripture. We find that the Bible does not teach open borders, but wise welcome. We are to welcome the lawful foreigner, who, like a convert, comes as a blessing. …

“In Scripture, we learn that God placed us each in a family, a land, an epic story of creation, the fall and redemption. The Bible envisions a world of beautiful and unique nations, not a stateless ‘open society’ run by global oligarchs. Each of us is called to be a blessing where God has placed us in the world. In policy decisions ahead, while treating undocumented people kindly, we ask that you would first and foremost honor often forgotten American citizens whose families have served our nation for many generations, and the patient people who have applied lawfully to come here and to become citizens of the United States. These lives also matter. These people also dream.”

Pastor Rohrer continued, “Those in the pulpit play a vital role by applying the whole counsel of God to issues and encouraging government officials to fulfill their God-given and constitutional duties.”

Faith Leaders for America is a dedicated group of clergy and spiritual leaders from various faith communities who share a common commitment to freedom — freedom of religion, freedom of speech and the other liberties guaranteed by our Constitution—along with a firm commitment to address the imminent threats to those freedoms.