If you’ve been watching the news at all, you know that we have a huge immigration problem in the U.S. First, let me say that the problem is not with immigrants coming to this country. On the contrary, all of us in the United States are immigrants—or our forefathers were.
For instance, my ancestors came from Europe to the U.S. to escape religious persecution. Many people came for the same reason, while others came to pursue better opportunities for their careers and families. Immigration is part of the core of who we are as a nation. And I believe that by God’s grace, America has become the greatest nation on earth. So it’s no wonder so many want to come here, including those in the large migrant caravan that is traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border right now.
The problem is that many people have come to this country illegally, most of them from south of the border. After all, it’s much more difficult to enter a country illegally if you have to fly on an airplane to get there. Unfortunately, what often happens when people immigrate illegally from the south border is that if they’re arrested and deported, they try to enter again and again, or if they’re given a court date, they simply disappear. And it’s not just one or two people who do this. There are millions of people in this category. That’s why it’s such a big issue right now, an issue we need to address.
In fact, that’s part of the reason Donald Trump won the presidency. During his presidential campaign, he promised to secure America’s borders and reform immigration. Voters resonated with this “America first” commitment, and today, little has changed.
In fact, with violent throngs of those intent on storming U.S. borders—and hurling rocks at border patrol agents in the process over the Thanksgiving weekend—many Americans still want safe borders, despite what mainstream media reports or what celebrities post on social media.
In my new book, Trump Aftershock, I detail the president’s many accomplishments, including the fact that America’s communities are safe and more secure.
But they’re only safer because President Trump has worked to secure our borders, enforce our immigration laws and protect the safety and security of American communities. Despite a vocal contingent that posts sentiments about separated families and women and children, the majority of Americans want to keep our country safe—and keep our families protected and unharmed. Legal immigration is an American ideal—nearly all of us can trace our roots to another ethnicity—but this is one of the major reasons why evangelicals voted for President Trump. It is common sense to protect our borders the same way we protect our homes and churches. Anything less is inviting trouble into the nation.
In a special section on Trump’s accomplishments in my book, I highlight these immigration facts:
- Despite limited resources and obstruction from Congress, President Trump has worked to take control of our border and enforce our immigration laws.
- President Trump has called on Congress to provide the resources needed to secure our borders and close loopholes that prevent immigration laws from being fully enforced.
- President Trump authorized the deployment of the National Guard to help secure our borders.
- President Trump’s administration has carried out immigration enforcement efforts based on the rule of law. For example, from the start of President Trump’s administration to the end of FY 2017, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) made 110,568 arrests of illegal aliens. Arrests made in this time frame represented a 42 percent increase from the same time frame in FY 2016. Of the 110,568 arrests made, 92 percent had a criminal conviction, pending criminal charge, were an ICE fugitive or had a reinstated final order of removal.
I write on this topic more in depth in Trump Aftershock, which explores Trump’s impact on our culture and faith in America. Our president may be unconventional, but I believe God raised him up for such a time as this, and my goal in Trump Aftershock is to show how God has used him. Buy the book at trumpaftershock.com and download a free chapter.
Listen to my podcast below to hear more about my insights into illegal immigration and what Trump is doing to stop it. Forward this article to a friend or share it on social media!
Stephen Strang