I have struggled to know even where to begin to express my deep dismay at the treatment of the dear people who have sought refuge under the Del Rio International Bridge. Many of them began their journey for refuge as many as ten years ago by departing from the shores of Haiti.
These are survivors. These are strong, ingenious, creative people who have learned languages, leaned into deprivation, and held onto hope.
Some blame their journey on an earthquake. But there are other factors too that contributed to the violence, poverty, and political alienation that compelled them to leave. America stirs the pot with the left hand and crushes the hearts of people who climb out with the right.
Our neighbours have come to the border asking for refuge. But, we treat them with contempt.
During the week in which men on horses chased down and flayed away at the backs of our sons and daughters, in which people where corralled onto planes and flown back to Haiti without due process, I began reading Dominique DuBois Gilliard’s book, Subversive Witness, Scripture’s Call to Leverage Privilege. He writes,
“Hosea 4:6 explains that God’s people perish because of a lack of knowledge, and the masses also suffer when they lack godly leadership.
Subversive Witness, p. 22.
Narcissistic political leaders fear losing their power, influence, and possessions more than they fear God. Their insecurities lure them into idolatry, fear distrusts their vision, and paranoia prohibits them from affirming the imago Dei inherent in all their neighbours. Consequently, their dictates exacerbate existing chasms between the privileged and disenfranchised.
Immoral leaders understand that when marginalized people are politically diagnosed as a social albatross, it becomes acceptable–if–not patriotic–to vilify them, infringe on their human rights’ and become apathetic toward their plight….”
Immoral leaders.
Today, Daniel Foote, the special envoy to Haiti, has resigned in protest of immoral leadership. No one is listening to him and the Biden administration seems to be intent on going ahead with the forced transport of people to Haiti. Daniel Foote describes the situation, “I will not be associated with the United States inhumane, counterproductive decision to deport thousands of Haitian refugees and illegal immigrants to Haiti, a country where American officials are confined to secure compounds because of the dangers posed by armed gangs in control of daily life.”
Grieve and lament.
Affirm those who offer refreshment.
Call for the due process and kindness required to be given those who seek refuge.
Are you a follower of Jesus? Beware the evil wrapped up in patriotic justifications for the sacrifice of God’s dear children in order to “secure our borders;” it’s the siren call; it’s a tasty morsel; it bears death to the soul; it wounds the conscience and numbs the mind. It has nothing to do with Jesus. It’s a wooden idol; it leads us astray and we become unfaithful to God. It brings rot and eases all of us into a habitual rejection of the Kingdom of God.
Many of those making decisions about the border and many who are in states reaping the consequences of these decisions are not followers of Jesus; don’t expect them to act like it. The question is, what will the church of the living God do?