What does the Bible say about illegal immigration?
The Bible does not explicitly mention illegal immigration in the way modern societies define it. Ancient Israel had no modern borders or national immigration systems. However, Scripture consistently offers moral principles on how to treat foreigners, sojourners, and those residing among the covenant people. While biblical laws included distinctions between native-born Israelites and outsiders, they also emphasized compassion, justice, and God’s heart for the vulnerable. Understanding the Bible’s teachings on this subject requires careful attention to both Old and New Testament texts.
1. How Did Ancient Israel View Foreigners?
The Old Testament repeatedly addresses the status and treatment of sojourners (Hebrew: ger), who were non-Israelites living in the land of Israel. God reminded His people of their own past as immigrants and enslaved people in Egypt:
“You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 22:21).
Foreigners were not to be exploited but protected under the law. They were included in community welfare systems (Leviticus 23:22), invited to participate in certain religious feasts, and were even expected to follow Israel’s moral laws (Leviticus 24:22). However, there were also limits: sojourners could not serve as kings (Deuteronomy 17:15), and full participation in some aspects of national life was restricted to the native-born or proselyte.
Although this does not address illegal immigration as defined today, it does show that the Bible supports both a just legal order and compassionate inclusion. Foreigners were welcome but not without accountability to the covenant order.
2. Does the Bible Condone Lawbreaking for the Sake of Migration?
The Bible affirms the importance of respecting governing authorities. Paul writes:
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God” (Romans 13:1).
This passage has often been applied to debates around illegal immigration. According to Scripture, civil governments exist to maintain order and justice, and breaking the law is not to be taken lightly. However, biblical ethics also remind us that unjust laws—such as those that oppress the poor, deny mercy, or violate God’s justice—are subject to divine scrutiny (Isaiah 10:1-2).
Therefore, while the Bible does not endorse unlawful behavior, it simultaneously upholds the higher moral obligation to care for the oppressed, including immigrants fleeing danger, famine, or injustice. Christians are called to uphold both justice and mercy, recognizing the limits of human law while maintaining the dignity of every image-bearer.
3. What Does the Bible Say About the Vulnerable—Including Immigrants?
God consistently identifies Himself as the defender of the weak, including the widow, the orphan, and the foreigner:
“The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless” (Psalm 146:9).
In Deuteronomy 10:18-19, God is praised for loving the immigrant and commands His people to do the same: “Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.” These texts do not directly address the question of border policy, but they do establish a theological principle: Christians are to treat immigrants—even those who enter unlawfully—with dignity and compassion.
This becomes particularly relevant when viewing immigration through the lens of the Gospel. The people of God were once strangers and aliens—both in Egypt and in their spiritual condition. Christ welcomed us not on the basis of status or legality, but through grace. That pattern shapes how Christians respond to those who come to our borders, legally or not.
4. What About National Borders and Security?
The Bible affirms the value of order, justice, and the responsibility of governments to protect their citizens. Nehemiah’s rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls (Nehemiah 4:13-14) is sometimes cited to support national defense and border integrity. In the Old Testament, tribal boundaries and territories were respected and even enforced.
However, Israel’s ultimate security was not in walls but in covenant faithfulness. Trusting in borders while neglecting righteousness was consistently condemned by the prophets. For instance, Amos 1–2 criticizes nations for violence and unjust treatment of foreigners, including in the region of Gaza.
Applying this to illegal immigration, Scripture affirms a government’s right to regulate entry and protect its people, but never in a way that dehumanizes the vulnerable. Biblical justice calls for wise governance and merciful outreach, not one at the expense of the other.
5. How Should Christians Apply Biblical Principles to Modern Immigration?
While illegal immigration as a political category is not present in the Bible, believers can draw from its broader moral vision. Key biblical principles include:
Compassion for the outsider (Leviticus 19:33–34)
Justice for the vulnerable (Malachi 3:5)
Obedience to authorities (Romans 13:1)
Hospitality to strangers (Hebrews 13:2)
Wisdom in leadership and policy (Proverbs 29:4)
Christians are called to hold these principles together, not pitting justice against mercy but allowing the Gospel to shape how we treat those who come to our land. While laws matter, so do people made in God’s image.
Conclusion: Illegal Immigration, the Bible, and the Heart of God
The Bible does not offer a direct policy on illegal immigration, but it clearly reveals God’s heart for immigrants and sojourners. His covenant people are to be shaped by remembrance—they were once strangers, both politically and spiritually. The church, called to live out the reality of the Kingdom, must navigate the tension between lawful order and radical grace.
Jesus Himself was once a child refugee (Matthew 2:13–15). His Gospel opens wide the doors of the Kingdom to those without earthly status or credentials. In Him, former aliens become citizens (Ephesians 2:19). This doesn’t negate the importance of lawful immigration processes, but it reframes the discussion: not merely as a matter of borders, but of belonging, mercy, and the justice of God.
Bible verses about illegal immigration:
Exodus 22:21, “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.”
Leviticus 19:33-34, “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.”
Deuteronomy 10:18-19, “He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.”
Malachi 3:5, “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness… against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.”
Psalm 146:9, “The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.”
Isaiah 10:1-2, “Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees… to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right.”
Romans 13:1, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God.”
Matthew 2:13-14, “An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph… ‘Flee to Egypt…’ And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt.”
Ephesians 2:19, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”
Hebrews 13:2, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
