Introduction

A new survey of voters with religious affiliations by the Public Religion Research Institute finds broad support across religious groups for comprehensive immigration reform.

Strongly Shared Immigration Reform Values

The poll results indicate that Americans in different religious traditions strongly share a set of 4 values that should guide immigration reform by at least 80% of those polled:

(1) Enforcing the rule of law and promoting national security (88%),

(2) Ensuring fairness to taxpayers (84%),

(3) Protecting the dignity of every person (82%), and

(4) Keeping families together (80%).

Golden Rule Should Guide Immigration Reform

A strong majority of 71% of those polled say the Golden Rule—“providing immigrants the same opportunity that I would want if my family were immigrating to the U.S.”—is a very or extremely important value. 

Broad Support Among Evangelicals, Mainline, and Catholics

Of those polled, there were few significant differences among religious groups.  For example, white evangelical voters are just as likely as white Mainline, Catholic, and unaffiliated voters say protecting the dignity of every person is a very or extremely important value.

Read more in the Public Religion Research Institute poll report “Religion, Values, and Immigration Reform” – by clicking on the report title.

     ***** Questions For Thought, Comment, And Small Group Discussion *****

(1)  Do you think comprehensive immigration reform is needed – why or why not?

(2)  What are your main concerns in reforming our immigration laws?

(3)  What do you think should be the main priorities in reforming our immigration laws?

(4)  How would you priority rank the following immigration reform considerations: (a) enforcing the rule of law, (b) national security, (c) ensuring fairness to taxpayers, (d) protecting the dignity of every person, (e) keeping families together, (f) bringing in immigrants with scare expertise and skills, (f) following the Golden Rule, (g) providing a “legalization path” for the 12 million undocumented immigrants now residing in this country, and (g) securing our borders?

(5) Does it surprise you that there is broad support among Evangelicals, Mainline, and Catholics in the underlying priorities that should guide immigration reform – why or why not? 

(6)  Are there common underlying religious values that would account for this broad support among Evangelicals, Mainline, and Catholics – and what are these common religious values?

        ***** Relevant Article Previously Posted On MicahsCall ******

(1) “UCLA Study: Immigration Reform Will Add $1.5 Trillion To GDP” is a synopsis of and a link to a Los Angeles Times article reporting on a UCLA study that concludes that legalizing undocumented immigrants will boost the economy by $1.5 trillion.

(2) “Earned Citizenship: A Dialogue With The Christian Right,” (by Peter Wong) presents an example Socratic-like dialogue supporting an earned citizenship pathway for undocumented immigrants, weaving facts and Biblical citations into the dialogue.

(3) “LET’S DIALOGUE WITH THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT: A Syllabus Of Strategies, Moral Values, And Biblical Citations” (by Peter Wong) is a book-length syllabus that presents strategies, moral values, Biblical citations, and example Socratic-like dialogues on “hot button” social issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage, stem cell research, global warming, immigration, and universal health insurance.