Rev. Jennifer Butler: Why I’m Going to the Border

Last updated on: June 27, 2018 at 7:46 pm by Rev. Jen Butler

Rev. Jennifer Butler: Why I’m Going to the Border 2018-06-27T19:46:10+00:00 Rev. Jen Butler

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Children need their families. As a mom, my worst nightmare is losing my son. I would go to any lengths to protect him.

A Pentagon spokesperson said that the U.S. is preparing to shelter as many as 20,000 migrant children on four American military bases. Images come to mind of Japanese internment camps in World War II. Of our turning Jews back by the boatloads to Nazi Germany.

Religious women are mad as hell. So we are heading to the border today on a solidarity and fact-finding mission to McAllen, Texas. I’ll be reporting here daily so be sure to check in.

My faith compels me to act. Jesus told us that whatever we do to the least of these we do to him. Scripture tells us repeatedly we are to treat immigrants with compassion for we were all once migrants and sojourners. I am not an American first. I am a Christian first.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions is trying to weaponize a holy text in the name of sin and evil. Let’s be clear. The fulfillment of the law in the Bible is love of neighbor.

Trump partially capitulated to our moral outcry last week but this country is still in a moral crisis. The plight of over 2,000 children separated from parents is up in the air. The Attorney General’s “Zero Tolerance” policy remains in effect. Under this policy, whole families can now be imprisoned. Trump’s Executive Order keeps children with their families but claims the right to imprison them indefinitely. This is outrageous. Families belong in communities, not in cages.

Prior to Zero Tolerance, families were allowed to stay in communities with relatives until their claim for asylum was heard. We need to return to that policy. Keep families together and out of prisons. Reunify the children shipped across this country far from loved ones.

McAllen is home to many wonderful folks, including the mayor who opposes what Trump is doing, and Sister Norma Pimentel who runs the Catholic Charities Respite Center for migrants. It’s also one of the busiest entry points for immigrants, and home to one of the largest detention centers in the country.

The voices echoing in my ear from news reports and border ministry partners compel me to take action.

“I can’t go back. If I go back, he will kill us,” said the woman fleeing domestic violence with her son. Trump recently rescinded human rights protections for women fleeing domestic violence.

Another mother fled gang wars in her village that killed her relatives. She feared gangs would take her son. Now the U.S. government threatens to take her son. She faces a “Sophie’s choice.” Death by gangs who would force him to kill others or death through forced separation. But the latter choice gives him a chance to live.

Last week, 500 morally outraged women gathered in front of U.S. Customs and Border Protection offices in Washington, D.C. as border agents gathered for a conference. We delivered a petition of over 7,000 religious women demanding they stop separating families, reunite the children with parents, and keep families in communities, not cages. Our voices rattled the windows and hopefully reached some hearts. . Trump reversed the policy of separating families but that is not enough. These families are still in limbo and clearly the administration plans more harm to them.

What else can you do?

Check in this week as I report in on this blog from the ground in McAllen.
Call your member of Congress. I can’t stress how much calls make a difference. . Even ten calls can cause a shift in their perspective.
Tell these stories in your congregation. Share, preach and teach on God’s mercy and grace. Many Christians in particular are stuck in a legalistic framework that Jesus contested. Work to soften their hearts.
Give to legal services and border ministries (your denomination has these but here are some in case you want direction.)
Vote. . If you really care, don’t vote for people who champion these immoral and cruel policies. Make this your top issue.

Our moral voice is critical at this moment. Above all, yes even above the law, we are called to see the image of God in each and every human being. Our government is dehumanizing people in this country. It’s up to each of us to help others see the image of God in immigrant families who flee persecution.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

June 26, 2018

A New Rite of Passage for Struggling Youth

Next Post

January 15, 2019 #MLK90: A Day Of Reckoning

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Author Interviews Battle Over the Body and Blood of Christ Bearing Beauty Book Reviews Christian Education christian spirituallity christianity Christmas Church Church Leadership Contemplation Creation Care Death and Dying Death Penalty Disruptive Change Disruptors Series Easter Education Evolution and Faith Future of Progressive Christianity Gun Violence Health & Wellness Holy Week Interfaith Israel-Palestine Leading Differently Lent LGBTQ Living with Cancer Meditations on the Cross Mental Illness millennials Mimetic Mondays Monday Meditations Movie Reviews New Monasticism Pando Populus Parenting Patheos 10+1 Q&A Series PC(USA) Politics Pop Culture Practical Theology Series Prayer progressive christian Race Relations Reformation religion Religion and Politics Religion in America Rethink Church Social Justice Spirituality Spirituality of the Body Stump a Scholar Technology and Faith Thanksgiving Theodicy Trust Me Church Uncategorized Why I'm Still Christian Youth Ministry

Select a Month December 2025 April 2025 January 2025 September 2023 September 2022 May 2022 February 2022 January 2022 November 2021 October 2021 May 2021 February 2021 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 June 2020 May 2020 March 2020 June 2019 March 2019 January 2019 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Apocalypse" mean in Greek?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Revelation or unveiling End of world Redemption Wrath