Stephen Miller’s rabid hatred of immigrants who aren’t “white” is playing out on America’s streets with devastating effect. DHS goon squads from I.C.E. and the Border Patrol have been given license to racially profile people as they wreak havoc in cities across the country. Regardless of the legal status of many immigrants, they have been rounded up, detained, and often deported, even if those immigrants had followed the law. Kristi Noem, Tom Homan, Greg Bovino, Stephen Miller, and every single agent working for I.C.E. and the Border Patrol are all culpable in the atrocities being committed. We know that those atrocities include deplorable conditions in I.C.E. facilities, deaths in detention centers due to negligence, murder of detainees, and executions of American citizens in Minnesota. Added to that list is the senseless killing of Keith Porter, Jr. by an off-duty trigger happy I.C.E. agent.

There is no justification for any of this. The regime’s statements about only going after the “worst of the worst” do not stand up to scrutiny. That white nationalism is behind Stephen Miller’s desire to ethnically cleanse the nation is clear. Far too many self-professed Christians have been supporting the egregious lawbreaking by the regime’s armed and masked minions. These Christians have yet to draw the line at sexual assault, rape, and sex trafficking minors as evidenced by their continued support for Donald Trump. In light of that, it is completely unsurprising that racist “Christians” support I.C.E. and the Border Patrol’s draconian tactics.

My question for these so-called Christians remains, “what part of the regime’s actions look anything like Jesus?” Put another way, “do you support Jesus or I.C.E.?” It simply cannot be both as the gospel narratives make plain. Whatever one believes about Jesus of Nazareth from a theological standpoint, i.e. his ostensible divinity, virgin birth, or purported resurrection, there is nothing in his teachings to even remotely suggest that a person can follow him faithfully while supporting I.C.E.

To begin with, we must locate Jesus within his time and circumstances. As an infant, according to Matthew 2, he was a refugee whose family had to flee to Egypt because of credible threats on his life from Herod. His family returned to their homeland in Israel only after Herod died. They settled in Galilee. Throughout Jesus’ life as a carpenter and later during his public ministry, Israel was an occupied territory ruled by the brutal Roman Empire. His teachings must be read through that lens, along with Jesus’ devout Judaism. He did not teach a message of empire building or of power over others. His core message was the love of God and the love of neighbor. With that in mind, let us briefly compare the teachings of Jesus with the actions of I.C.E.

Jesus said, “blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Mt. 5:5) There is nothing meek about this regime and certainly nothing meek about masked and armed I.C.E. agents.

Jesus said, “blessed are the peacemakers…” (Mt. 5:9.) Nothing I.C.E. does promotes peace. They intentionally escalate situations and use violence against immigrants and protesters.

Jesus blessed children and said that the kingdom of God belongs to them (Mk. 10:13-16) I.C.E. has used children as bait, ripped their parents away from them, and has traumatized countless children with their violence and cruelty.

Jesus said, “do not resist an evil doer,” and “to turn the other cheek” (Mt. 5:38-39). I.C.E. agents instigate violence and have murdered multiple people.

Jesus said, “In everything you do, do to others as you would have them do to you,” (Mt.7:12). There isn’t a single I.C.E. agent who would want to be treated, or have their family members treated, the way they treat immigrants and protesters.

Jesus said to “welcome the stranger,” (Mt. 25:31-46). I.C.E. meets those strangers we should be welcoming with violence, detention, and deportation – sometimes to countries those immigrants have never been to.

Jesus said, “Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you,” (Lk. 6:27). I.C.E. agents, at the behest of Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem, see anyone who isn’t white as an enemy, and treat them with hatred and contempt.

Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself…” (Lk.10:25-37) and intentionally used a Samaritan as the example of who was the neighbor. Samaritans were often reviled by Jews in Jesus’ day. Today’s immigrants are the Samaritans of Jesus’ day. I.C.E. and those who support them show no love to their immigrant neighbors.

Jesus said that a tree is known by its fruit and that, “The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil, for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.” (Lk. 6:43-45) I.C.E. produces no good fruit and its agents produce only evil.

Jesus said, “ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Jn. 13:34-35) It is impossible to see any love from I.C.E. or the Christians who support their actions.

These verses are just a sample of the things Jesus taught. They show clearly that there are no points of congruence between following Jesus and supporting I.C.E., CBP, and the Trump regime. Jesus often called people to repentance. Anyone who has supported Trump and continues to support him must repent because support for Trump has given him license to harm vulnerable people and communities. Repent and join the resistance. It’s what Jesus would do.

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