Neighbor: Christian Encounters with "Illegal" Immigration

by Ben Daniel

Using a blend of travel narrative, interviews, theological insight, and biblical scholarship, Daniel tackles the controversial issues that surround undocumented migration in the United States by taking the reader to the spiritual, legal, and geographical front lines of the immigration debate. Here, the political becomes personal and talking points have a human face. The result of this journey is a compelling argument that encourages Christians to meet undocumented migrants as neighbors and as friends. Study questions are included.

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2010

About the author

Ben Daniel is a Presbyterian minister in San Jose, California. His writing has been translated into four languages and has been published by a variety of local, regional, national, and international broadcast and print media. His work has been published widely online. His opinions have appeared on The Huffington Post since 2010. He is a graduate of Westmont College and of Princeton Theological Seminary.

Ben Daniel is the author of Neighbor: Christian Encounters with “Illegal” Immigration (Westminster John Knox Press, August, 2010), winner of ForeWord Review's 2011 religion book of the year award. In 2013, The Search for Truth About Islam, which explores misconceptions of Islam, was published by Westminster John Knox Press.

Reviews

[Montez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intelligently written and sensitively presented. Daniels, a local Presbyterian minister and writer, explores the issue of immigration from a variety of perspectives, tied together with a common theme of compassion over exclusion. A serious Christian thinker who offers a refreshing alternative to the dominant conservative Christian dialogue -- Daniels puts his focus on the radically progressive message of Christ: to love your neighbor.

[Jennifer Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

When my family and I immigrated to the US in the late 70's from Korea, my uncle's family was scheduled to come with us. We went through the same visa process (which I think took about ten years) and a couple of months before our visas were granted, my uncle died of a massive stroke. He and my mother were the blood links to our maternal uncle residing in the US. The US law didn't recognize my cousins and my aunt (the dead uncle's family) as being related to the uncle residing in the US. They, who were like family to us (my father joked that he had six kids, not three), had to be left behind, and we came to the US. My brothers and I grew up, forever longing to have them join us in the US, but there were no viable options. So, to this day, we long to see them more regularly, but even tourist visas are hard to come by. My cousins, living a very comfortable middle class life in Korea, are not wealthy enough to get easy visas. So, they must wait and wait, even for a tourist visa (this is the story they tell me, anyhow).

So, the issue of illegal immigrants in the US is a topic of profound ambivalence to me. My family, who played by the US rules, was torn apart, while these illegal immigrants who find their way here breaking the rules get to stay? It punches me in the guts everytime I think about it. 30 years later, I still miss my cousins and wished I had them with us, in the US.

Having said that, I believe in grace and compassion. I believe that we are our brother's keeper, and I don't want to see another person, male or female, young or old, perish in the desert because they want to find a better way of life. What gets me is that if a person wants to be here THAT badly...wants to be part of this society THAT much, the lasting the person wants to do is to tear down the very thing they want to be a part of.

I believe that God wants us to take care of one another and that should start with the least among us, legal or illegal. I was shocked to find that the illegal immigrants can't hold a driver's liscence. To live everyday in fear of discovery is a terrifying thing to consider and to be wrenched away from my children.... In a Biblical sense, I'm not sure if cost analysis of an illegal immigrant is relevant. As human beings, I think we should take care of one another, just like what Jesus tells us to do in the Bible.

I've grown to like President Bush much more since he left the office (I've grown to like President Obama much less since he took the office. Maybe the key is the office, not the person....)and I'd like to challenge him. He could completely change his legacy, from a list of failures to one gigantic win for the human kind. Embrace and champion one of the best ideas he had in office, the immigration reform, and work across the party lines to make that happen. That would totally reshape his presidency and leave a legacy he and his descendants could be proud of.

Going back to the book, did I agree with everything? Nope. Somethings I disagreed with him very strongly.

Do I think it's an important book? Yes. I do. Even if you disagreed, I think you'd come away with something new to think about.

Would I recommend it? Yes! Resounding yes! I actually think this should be required reading for all border patrol personnel(I'm not joking. I think they should try to "walk in their shoes", just to understand a little more of what the illegal immigrants go through).

[Carlos Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm preparing for another trip to the borderlands to photograph and write for my blog Human+Kind (www.humankind.be). This is an amazing book. It blends personal stories and facts, and knits them together with spirituality. If you are tired of hearing the cacophony from the right and simply want to figure out what you can do to finally fix the broken immigration system, read this book. Daniel takes the biblical question, "Who is my neighbor?" and applies it to the immigration debate (if one can really call it that anymore). In short, Mr. Daniel presents five things he would like to see change: (1) visas for seasonal workers, (2) keep families together, (3) treat immigrants brought over as children differently, (4) tear down the wall, and (5) control the movement of goods and services at the border with duty fees, enforcement, and (get this!) economic development south of the border. The arguments for each of these proposed changes are laid out nicely.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about illegal immigration which is sensitive to the current issues around how immigrants are treated in our country as well as historical and theological reflection about how we 'welcome the stranger in our midst.' I did a paper on this topic in seminary and appreciated the sensibility that Daniel brings to his exegesis of Biblical material. The idea that immigrants understand their journey north as a spiritual piligrimage was new to me, though it does make sense. For my part, I don't know how anyone can be a Christian, look honestly at the issue and not be moved with compassion at the injustices are wetback friends face. Certainly there is room to disagree with Daniel on the exact shape immigration policy should take, but xenophobia should not be an option.

[Noam · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read in a while, and I've read some pretty good books this year. A challenging and compassionate book no matter how you self-define or how you (currently) feel about immigration. Many books seem to just preach to the choir, but "Neighbor" invites anyone to be a reader, and to feel respected. This book gives me great hope.

[JOANNE MACPEEK · Rating 3 out of 5]

To say you are a Christian and to be against immigration reform is NOT possible after reading this book.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would challenge you to read this. It outlines a biblical and Christian response to this controversial topic.

[Kate Belt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aunt Katie started this last night & is 1/2 through already. Looking forward to discussing it with her and whoever else reads it!