Why Are So Many Conservative Protestants Against Amnesty/Immigration??

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I first want to say that I do not intend to stereotype or offend anyone… I’m basing this purely off of people I know.

While watching a TV show with Hispanic characters, I noticed how visibly Catholic they were. One character wore a rosary, and there was a corner of a house dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

I know many conservative Protestants who are against amnesty and immigration (mainly illegal, of course). I definitely agree that illegal immigration shouldn’t be allowed, but I do think our country could do more to legally welcome people from Mexico and central American countries who are often fleeing oppression and/or danger and want to build better lives for themselves and their children.

So anyhow, I started wondering if the very Catholic appearance of some/many Hispanics makes Protestants uneasy, perhaps even just subconsciously. Would they be more welcoming if these immigrants (illegal or legal) were Protestant?

One quick comment: A Protestant woman I know who recently returned from Mexico described to me how Catholicism has become “interwoven with pagan religions.” She said there is still idol worship that goes on down there, and as “proof,” she showed a picture of what was basically a little side altar with saint statues and flowers- like you’d see in any Catholic church. But I doubt she’d be enthusiastic about welcoming these “idol worshippers” into our predominantly Protestant country for fear of being over-run.

Again, I sincerely do not mean to offend anyone, and if I’m being stereotypical, this is the chance to clear things up!
 
Just to clarify, I guess I should say I’m not asking if it’s THE reason some Protestants oppose amnesty/immigration. I’m just asking if it could be ONE motive, however minor, among many. Even if they don’t consciously think about it.
 
Psalm4 said:
I first want to say that I do not intend to stereotype or offend anyone… I’m basing this purely off of people I know.

While watching a TV show with Hispanic characters, I noticed how visibly Catholic they were. One character wore a rosary, and there was a corner of a house dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

I know many conservative Protestants who are against amnesty and immigration (mainly illegal, of course). I definitely agree that illegal immigration shouldn’t be allowed, but I do think our country could do more to legally welcome people from Mexico and central American countries who are often fleeing oppression and/or danger and want to build better lives for themselves and their children.

So anyhow, I started wondering if the very Catholic appearance of some/many Hispanics makes Protestants uneasy, perhaps even just subconsciously. Would they be more welcoming if these immigrants (illegal or legal) were Protestant?

One quick comment: A Protestant woman I know who recently returned from Mexico described to me how Catholicism has become “interwoven with pagan religions.” She said there is still idol worship that goes on down there, and as “proof,” she showed a picture of what was basically a little side altar with saint statues and flowers- like you’d see in any Catholic church. But I doubt she’d be enthusiastic about welcoming these “idol worshippers” into our predominantly Protestant country for fear of being over-run.

Again, I sincerely do not mean to offend anyone, and if I’m being stereotypical, this is the chance to clear things up!
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I don’t think it has naything to do with Catholicism, or religion of any kind (except maybe radical Islam). You hit the nail on the head for me when you talk about illegal immigration. I lived in South Texas for many years, with Hispanic neighbors, friends and customers. Like all other heritages, they are for the most good Americans.
If you wish to speak about expansion of legal immigration, I’m for it. But I oppose illegal immigration.
As for Amnesty International, they have in the past taken what I consider an anti-American tone.

Jon
 
Immigration is fine. Illegal immigration is a violation of our laws, pure and simple. Should we not enforce our laws? Or only some of them…
 
On one level…the answer is “Fear”. Fear that the number of Catholics would outnumber non-Catholics and could then take control of the economy and political arena in this country.

I can remember back when John Kennedy was running for President, there was much ado about the fact that he was Catholic, and there was much rhetoric aimed at him that was intended to destroy his chances of election… You might find the following interesting:

From here: catholicleague.org/printer.php?p=Catalyst&id=1659

In a chapter entitled “The Power of Negative Thinking,” the book recounts the secret campaign master-minded by famed preacher and author Norman Vincent Peale against John F. Kennedy in 1960. Peale, nationally famous for his best-seller The Power of Positive Thinking, is less well known today for his plan to use “Reformation Sunday” in 1960 (a week before election day) to marshal the aid of Protestant ministers across the U.S. to preach against a Catholic in the White House. Peale and his fellow ministers involved in what has come to be known as the “Montreaux Meeting Plot” were exposed by the press, and Massa explores how the anti-Kennedy episode affected their subsequent careers.

Below is a link to a speech that John Kennedy made prior to the election…it also has a link on the page to an actual recording of the speech by then Senator Kennedy.

boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/12/02/address_of_senator_john_f_kennedy_to_the_greater_houston_
ministerial_association/

Another reason is “ignorance”, or the lack of any factual knowledge.

I am wholly opposed to illegal immigration, and I cannot say that I particularly like the idea of amnesty… But I have no problem with legal immigration. Afterall, my own forefathers were immigrants…who entered the country legally and settled here.
 
I don’t know if the “violation of our laws” stands up, with Catholic teachings. For example, abortion is not a violation of our laws, yet we are to work to reverse that. Why shouldn’t we also work to reverse laws that work against those looking for a better way of life, basically the poor?

Mat 19:21 Jesus saith to him: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
Mat 19:22 And when the young man had heard this word, he went away sad: for he had great possessions.

Is our country our great possession?
 
Maybe it also varies by area? I grew up in northern California, far away from the border, but in a town that was nearly evenly split between Anglos and Hispanics, and I never even remember hearing about this at all from any Protestant anywhere locally, only on the larger national arena around election times or if there was a referendum coming up (and I am cynical about politics, so I would guess that this was mostly to score political points, maybe not such true conviction).

I think that locally, regardless of anyone’s personal feelings, it would have seemed in such poor taste to have essentially come out against half the town that no one would have dared do it. I never heard any such talk privately either, though. This increased talk of immigration and “the wall” seems to be a result of changing demographics inspiring fear in some people. I have even had to sternly condemn some comments made by my own father about this issue, mostly by reminding him that his own mother came here from Mexico City back in the 1930s when there wasn’t all this hysteria, so how could he turn around and say such horrible things about her fellow countrymen? Sure, she came here legally, but it was easier back then. She showed me her passport photo and she a little girl posed with her mother. She said that back then children could be posed with their parents so that the same passport could be used for both individuals. I don’t know when this stopped being an option, but things sure have changed. I have so many close friends who have been here for the majority of their lives by now who have only recently become citizens or maybe still aren’t citizens because the process can take a long time. In the meantime they get jobs, start families (with children who have birth-right citizenship…go figure), and go to church just like anybody else.

This issue makes me depressed and angry. I don’t think I should post any more on it. I just wish people would try to be empathetic, instead of falling back on arguments about the (selectively) inviolable integrity of law. To me (and, praise be to God, to my Church), the ultimate integrity of a law is determined by its justice and humanity. If you think that denial of amnesty or tightening/cessation of immigration is in line with what is most just and humane for the United States, that’s fine. I will forever disagree with that, but hey…some of my relatives came over from Europe and so probably did the whole Ellis Island thing, too. Papers are great when you can get them. 😦
 
I certainly cannot answer for any or many persons described in your title. It is an historical fact, however, that immigration law in this country is flawed because its roots lie in racial, ethnic and religious discrimination, weighted against incomers from Southern and Eastern Europe, the Americas, and Asia. The system needs complete reform from the beginning and until that happens injustice will continue to form the framework of our law and practice. I have no assurance that an unjust law built on unjust principles should be obeyed.
 
JonNC said:
As for Amnesty International, they have in the past taken what I consider an anti-American tone.
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Not only that. The Vatican also urged Catholics not to donate to Amnesty International due to its pro-choice stance.

It is usually in the Bible Belt i have read, that have such attitude towards Mexican illegal immigrants. Usually small pockets of Protestant community leaders who feel Catholicism should not take control over immigration policies. Other Protestants don’t feel this way as they believe “this is not what Jesus would have wanted.”
 
It has nothing to do with Catholicism.

For most it is just part of a suite of conservative domestic concerns embraced by many Evangelicals.

For some it has to do with security. 9/11 has many people thinking that we need to do a better job policing our borders generally.

IMO this distinction between legal and illegal immigration is false since no one has ever opposed legal immigration.

And legal immigration has never been the problem driving this discussion.

If the question is whether we need to make it easier for our neighbors to the south to access citizenship one wonders what would happen if we did this. Note, I am not arguing against such a course but it isn’t something we should jump into.

Another issue, maybe larger for many, is the impact of immigration on jobs and the economy. When we have people coming here to work but much of the money they earn not being spent here, this is problematic.

And on the same point, the larger issue of American nationals vacating basic labor jobs to immigrants is troubling on two fronts:
  1. The unwillingness of these American nationals to take these entry level labor positions needs to be addressed, and
  2. Paying immigrants (illegal or otherwise) lower wages will have a detrimental effect on wage setting for everyone.
This appears to be another issue many Evangelicals have embraced for somewhat confused reasons, another example might be blind support for Israel. In both cases there aren’t any real theological reasons to do so, though there are plenty of political ones.
 
IMHO, the word “immigration” is used rather loosely. Immigration is coming to a country with the intention of permanent residency. I think a lot of times, not every instance, but a lot of times folks come for work (without visas) and tend to go home. Or for an education and go home. Which may or may not be done illegally. I tend to think liberally on the education thing because a lot of other countries desperately need good doctors and other specialized people like scientists.

I even spoke to a Korean gentleman who worked in a nursing home my Grandmother was in and he and his wife were here soley for the 401K benefit and they were working long hours saving money intending to go home when enough was saved up for retirement. I’m sure he and his wife were legal, but these are the things that sort of stick with me. It’s like folks are taking advantage of benefits and then leaving with no intention of true “immigration”.

What we are seeing now is not true “immigration” legal or not. Again, IMHO it seems like an influx of people who are here for the advantages whether long-term or short-term, legal or not and not planning to become citizens.

Americans tend to be defensive about this sort of thing. I love the idea of a person coming to America, learning English and making the U.S. their home, but I am just not for all the folks taking advantage because it takes away from the people who are TRUE IMMIGRANTS.

We love you who want to live here and BECOME AMERICAN. All others should be closely monitored and should come and go in controlled numbers which our social infrastructure can support.

🙂
 
I meet just as many Catholics as Protestants who are fed up with illegal immigration. In California, in my area for sure, emergency rooms are flooded with illegals, Medicaid is stretched to the max, food stamps and welfare as well as Mexican gangs all have not done much to endear folks to illegal immigration. During the housing boom in central California a lot of cement businesses went belly-up because they couldn’t compete with illegals who’d do the work for 1/4 of what anglo American businesses had to charge (insurance, taxes, overhead, etc.). As a teacher, we’ve seen a complete dynamic shift…test scores plummeting as teachers struggle to cope with parents and kids who have zero English. I have a student in my class that speaks no English, parents speak no English, all straight from Mexico. My principal ordered her all her textbooks completely in Spanish just for her. They cost around $300 just for one kid. She also gets all the notes home to parents specially translated into Spanish. She’s a WONDERFUL girl. I love her. But I question how much we tailor to one group and ignore some of our other immigrant groups in California like Hmongs, Laotians, Middle Easterners, etc. I was in the cellphone AT/T store today and the first thing the greeter says to every Mexican that comes in is, “do you need an interpreter?” The OP claims we could do more to welcome Mexican immigrants. Giving free medical, food stamps, welfare, translation service on demand, turning a blind eye to all the baggage that has come with such immigration, etc. I think we’ve been more than inviting!

Also, I notice that tons of Mexican families are Assembly of God or evangelicals of some kind now. I work with more evangelical Mexicans than Catholic ones. In my area it is the Portuguese and Filipinos as well as old-school Irish and Polish folks that are staunch Catholics while Mexicans have seemed to move more toward these little start up evangelical churches…
 
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