Apologist: Immigration reform plan violates Romans 13

A coalition of evangelical leaders has cobbled together what they say is a "call for restitution-based immigration reform" – but not all evangelical leaders are on board.

The plan, which is the brainchild of the Evangelical Immigration Table, calls for illegal immigrants to come out in the open, admit to violating the law, and pay "significant" fines and penalties ("in installments over a period of seven years"). That, says the EIT, would lead to a path to legal permanent residency.

"[Our plan] would address longstanding challenges without resorting to either mass deportation – which inherently would separate families – or amnesty, which would diminish respect for the rule of law," the group states.

But in fact, says Dr. Alex McFarland, it is amnesty – dressed up as Christian compassion. "There already is restitution-based immigration," he argues. "If you're a lawbreaker, you go own up to it and face the consequences of your illegal behavior."

And those consequences, he insists, are not paying fines and staying at the head of the line.

"There has to be some deportations," he tells OneNewsNow, "and frankly, for the good of the order, there are some deportations that need to take place."

While those endorsing the plan explain it is "driven by biblical principles" – such as keeping families intact, offering restoration for those who have violated the law, and protecting the vulnerable – McFarland says it's also overlooking a few other biblical principles.

"We need to be careful on defining Christianity as being one who doesn't obey the law – because that runs counter to Romans 13," says the Christian apologist. "Who's the arbiter on telling me what laws I can break and not break – [or telling me] what laws I should break and not break?"

Signers of the Evangelical Call for Restitution-Based Immigration Reform include Leith Anderson of the National Association of Evangelicals, Danny Akin of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, and Dr. Russell Moore of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.