Immigration

Violent attacks against Christians by Muslim extremists in Syria have increased as the byproduct of the country’s volatile political situation, much like what has transpired in Egypt, said a persecution watchdog this week.

Open Doors International officials say that while much of the world’s attention is focused on the Egyptian elections and American troops withdrawing from Iraq, the situation inside Syria is getting worse, especially for Christians.

“Christians inside Syria are caught in the crossfire as they are in many other Middle Eastern countries,” said Open Doors president and CEO Dr. Carl Moeller. “Until the protests started against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, the Christian community enjoyed some protection. Now they are afraid of the future. Will they have to flee their country like Iraqi Christians have done over the last several years?” more >>

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange has sent state legislative leaders a list of suggested changes for Alabama’s recently implemented immigration law, considered the strictest in the nation.

Strange wrote in a memo that he wanted to keep the law, known as HB 56, in place while at the same time making it less of a burden on Alabama citizens and easier to defend in court.

The major focus of the suggestions was to inhibit “unintended consequences” of the law and to clear up and properly define certain portions as well. more >>

A 19-year-old man who was born in Mexico but grew up in the United States might be deported Thursday.

His story is not new; the U.S. government deported over 400,000 people this year alone – a record that is expected to be broken next year. However, Deyvid Morales is unique in the sense that, unlike many undocumented immigrants who are deported, he has had the opportunity to speak out about his ordeal.

Ever since the aspiring pastor was arrested by immigration officials on his way to Bible college in Louisiana, Morales has become an outspoken advocate of the DREAM Act – the immigration reform bill that will give undocumented youths the opportunity to earn citizenship by going to college or serving in the military – by using his story as a way to get people to understand the implications of deportation on individuals and families. In the process, he has become somewhat of a celebrity in his hometown of Salt Lake City, appearing in print and on TV, and radio to share his perspective on the immigration issue. more >>

Only days away from a trial that will change his life, a former Bible college student will soon find out if an immigration judge will let him stay in the U.S. or order him to leave the country he calls home. Until then, he is expressing his deep faith and confidence that God will “stand up” for him.

Deyvid Morales has had an interesting year. As reported by The Christian Post in October, 19-year-old Morales was arrested by immigration officials in January while traveling from his home state of Utah to his first day at Bible college in Louisiana. When the aspiring pastor admitted to immigration officials that he was not an American citizen, he was arrested.

Morales was born in Mexico, but his family immigrated to the U.S. when he was 9-years-old. His parents were undocumented, as well. more >>

Mitt Romney was the governor of Massachusetts, a liberal state. Newt Gingrich has been one of the leaders of the conservative movement, as a member of Congress and speaker of the House. Based upon these facts, Gingrich would presumably be the most conservative. The answer to which candidate is most conservative, though, is not so simple.

One of the main areas where Romney has been fighting against the notion that he is not a true conservative is health care. As governor of Massachusetts, he signed a health care bill that included an individual mandate to purchase health insurance.

The Affordable Care Act, signed by President Obama in 2009, was modeled after the Massachusetts plan and included an individual mandate. Conservatives railed against many aspects of the Affordable Care Act, which was dubbed “Obamacare,” but the individual mandate became one of the central criticisms. They argued that the mandate took away personal liberty and the federal government does not have the authority to require everyone to purchase health insurance. more >>

Many questions have been raised in the current political debates over immigration. In an interview with The Christian Post, Chris Bentley, press secretary for the U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization Services, provided answers to some of those questions.

CP: I sometimes hear that the process of becoming a U.S. citizen is too complicated and should be simplified. Is it complicated?

Bentley: That's a term of art, figuring out if it is, or is not complicated, depending on who you talk to. There will be folks on the right side or the left side arguing vehemently that it is, or is not. What we can tell you is what the process is itself. more >>