***NEWS RELEASE***
For Immediate Release
February 23, 2026
CONTACT:
Hamilton Strategies, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Richard Jefferson, rjefferson@hamiltonstrategies.com
Does ‘compassion’ demand that Christians accept a flood of strangers to the US?
‘A nation that enforces its laws while seeking humane, lawful reforms is acting well within the bounds of biblical teaching,’ says Dr. Alex McFarland
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Border control and immigration are at the forefront of American politics, with pundits on both sides denouncing the tragic deaths at the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while leftist protesters bemoan the application of American border policies. Many Christians struggle with where to land on this debate, with some calling for compassion towards immigrants while others demand a swift crackdown on those who enter the nation illegally. What does the Bible say about illegal immigrants?
“For centuries, we’ve debated the tension between mercy and order, compassion and responsibility,” said Dr. Alex McFarland, founder and president of Alex McFarland Ministries, in a recent op-ed. “But now many clergy insist that the Old Testament Biblical commands to ‘welcome the stranger’ (Leviticus 19:34) require open borders and tolerance of illegal immigration. This reading reflects an extremely serious misuse of Scripture regarding the God-ordained role of civil government.
“Old Testament passages about ‘entertaining the stranger in your land’ are rooted in the law prescribed specifically for Israel. Certainly, humane and even gracious care of others is echoed in the New Testament, which speaks to personal obligations and communal charity. Remember, ancient Israel itself had defined boundaries, laws and expectations for those who entered and remained.
“A truly Christian approach to immigration makes no place for cruelty and indifference — but it also rejects naivety. Borders are moral. Laws are not unloving. A nation that enforces its laws while seeking humane, lawful reforms is acting well within the bounds of biblical teaching. It is time for religious leaders to stop misusing Scripture in this debate and to affirm the full counsel of God’s Word — one that honors compassion, order, and the rule of law together.”
To read more from Dr. Alex McFarland about the Christian response to illegal immigration, click here.
About Alex McFarland: Alex McFarland currently co-hosts “Exploring the Word” on the American Family Radio Network, airing daily on nearly 200 radio stations across the U.S. He is also the host of the “Alex McFarland Show,” which airs weekly on NRB TV and YouTube. The “Alex McFarland Show” podcast is available here.
McFarland and theologian Bert Harper, veteran cohosts of the nationally syndicated broadcast “Exploring the Word,” are proud to announce their newest book, “100 Bible Questions and Answers on Prophecy and the End Times.” Available now, the book concisely answers biblical questions about God, Scripture, Christian Living, and more. A follow-up to their previous work, “100 Bible Questions and Answers for Families,” this book promises to guide you through some of the most fascinating and frequently misunderstood topics in Christianity: end-times prophecy and life in the everlasting new creation.
Alex McFarland has authored or co-authored more than 21 books, including the newly released 100 Bible Questions & Answers on Prophecy and the End Times,” “10 Issues that Divide Christians,” “The God You Thought You Knew,” “10 Answers for Skeptics,” “10 Answers for Atheists,” “The 21 Toughest Questions Your Kids Will Ask About Christianity,” published by Focus on the Family, and more.
McFarland is a frequent guest on Fox News and has been interviewed by other media outlets including Fox and Friends, Focus On The Family radio, NPR’s All Things Considered, The New York Times, The Washington Post, BBC, CBN, La Vie (France), and various news outlets including CBS, FOX, NBC, CSPAN, SRN, and the Associated Press (AP) wire service. He is a contributing writer in print and electronic media, including LA Times, Boston Herald, OK- Celebrity News Magazine, Christianity Today, Charisma, On Mission, Billy Graham’s Decision Magazine and more.
Learn more about Alex McFarland Ministries at its website, Facebook and Instagram pages, or X feed.
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To schedule interviews with Alex McFarland, contact Hamilton Strategies, media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096 ext. 105, or Richard Jefferson, rjefferson@hamiltonstrategies.com.
