Opinion: Trump’s executive order is not the immigration reform we need

Among one of President Donald Trump first acts, he signed an executive order shutting down the U.S. southern border to prevent immigrants from coming over illegally. Weeks later, Trump said that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could go into schools, churches and hospitals, which were once safe sites. Trump has even called immigrants “dangerous aliens.” Unfortunately, some families have been separated and torn apart; as a result, this country continues to be more divided than ever. 

Looking at this from a Biblical perspective, Christians are meant to love all people like Jesus did. Remember if you read the Bible, Jesus was an immigrant too. In the book, Deuteronomy 10: 18-19, the Bible states, “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.” Jesus helped immigrants, he healed the sick, protected and educated children, always showed genuine love and kindness to all. He showed love to enemies and helped the poor.  

Yes, U.S. citizens—documented or not, should follow rules, but the way that the executive order has been carried out is not the way to accomplish this. Specifically, people of color are becoming more attacked and deported mainly because of their skin color. According to the book, Leviticus 19:33-34, it states, “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” God says to love everyone and to not discriminate against anyone.  

Some lawmakers use the story of Laken Riley to further this agenda. In 2024, Riley, formerly a Augusta University student, was jogging when she was kidnapped and murdered by Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan man, who was in the United States illegally.  

As tragic as Riley’s story is, every year, there are thousands of women who have been sexually assaulted and murdered by U.S. citizens. People seem to only care about women's pain when they can use it to fit their agenda.  

If it was about illegal immigrants, then why are people trying to get into elementary schools? If it was about religious morals, then why did people choose the president now that has such unethical beliefs?