As an evangelical Kansas pastor, I know immigrants deserve this protection | Opinion

I want to tell you about my friend Edgar — though I’ve changed his name and country of origin to protect his privacy. Nearly two years ago, Edgar, his wife and their two young children fled political persecution in South America and entered the United States lawfully under humanitarian parole. Upon arriving in Johnson County, they quickly began building a life. Edgar found full-time employment. His children enrolled in school. The family started learning English and built relationships with a local church community. They were, by every account, contributing members of society — committed to flourishing in their new home.

That changed when the Supreme Court upheld President Donald Trump’s decision allowing the termination of humanitarian parole for multiple nations, including Edgar’s. Overnight, his family lost their ability to work legally or remain in the U.S. They are now trapped in a legal and humanitarian limbo: unable to stay, unable to safely return. If deported, Edgar faces imprisonment in a country where his family is no longer safe.

This is not an isolated case. Thousands of immigrants across the U.S. find themselves in similar circumstances — strivers and survivors caught in the dysfunction of our immigration system. To make matters worse, recent changes enacted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have stripped essential services from undocumented immigrants, deepening their vulnerability. These are not abstract policy shifts — they are decisions with profound human consequences that impact some of our most vulnerable neighbors. It should come as no surprise that the large majority of Americans now disapprove of Trump’s immigration policies.

As a follower of Jesus, I cannot remain silent. Scripture calls us to love our neighbors (Mark 12:30–31), to welcome the stranger (Leviticus 19:33–34) and to care for “the least of these” (Matthew 25:31–46). Proverbs 31:8 urges us to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.” My faith compels me to advocate on behalf of families like Edgar’s. 

But this is not only a spiritual conviction — it is also a civic responsibility. That is why I am adding my voice to the majority of my fellow Americans who reject the false dichotomy of being a nation of laws or being a nation of welcome. We can, and must, be both. 

This is why I am in favor of supporting the Dignity Act — a piece of legislation co-sponsored by leaders from both major parties. It offers a pragmatic and principled path forward. The bill strengthens our border and modernizes enforcement, but it also establishes the Dignity Program— an earned pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants who have been living, working and contributing to our country. This is not amnesty. It is structured accountability, rooted in justice and mercy.

The bill also provides protections for Dreamers — children who were brought to the United States without documentation — and other vulnerable immigrants, preserving family unity and honoring the shared values of work, faith, and opportunity. It affirms that immigrants are not a threat to our national identity — they are part of it.

As an evangelical pastor, I believe this bill reflects the biblical balance of compassion and order. It acknowledges both the sovereignty of our borders and the sacred worth of every person made in the image of God, as in Genesis 1:26–28. It is a rare example of political courage in an age of polarization.

The Dignity Act proves we don’t have to choose between security and compassion. As Christians, we should support policies that protect our borders and uphold the God-given worth of every person. This bill does both. It’s time for Congress to act with courage — and for the church to lead with conviction.

I call on all our Kansas elected officials — including U.S. Reps. Sharice Davids, Ron Estes, Tracey Mann and Derek Schmidt — to lend their support for this bill.

This story was originally published July 25, 2025 at 6:03 PM.