Concentration camps un-American, un-Christian; Laken Riley Act deplorable

Protest signs posted in Minneapolis, Minn. Photo: Gerald Farinas.

As followers of Christ, we in the Presbyterian Church (USA) are committed to justice, compassion, and the dignity of all people, including immigrants and asylum seekers.

The Laken Riley Act, while named in memory of a tragic loss and named in such a way as to make it look horrible to vote against it, contains provisions that directly contradict the values of our Christian faith, particularly in its treatment of undocumented immigrants.

This law has real moral and theological implications.

The most troubling aspect of this law is its detention requirement for undocumented individuals arrested for any reason.

This provision effectively mandates indefinite detention, creating a system that amounts to mass incarceration. In other words: concentration camps.

Detention of immigrants, many of whom are fleeing violence, poverty, and oppression, violates the biblical call to welcome the stranger (Matthew 25:35) and to seek justice for the vulnerable (Micah 6:8).

Additionally, the broad language of the bill could result in the unjust targeting and indefinite detention of individuals for minor infractions, further criminalizing immigration rather than addressing its root causes with humane solutions.

This punitive approach is not only morally troubling but also fails to reflect the compassion and justice Christ modeled in his ministry.

But what can we do now that it is a law?

As people of faith, we are called to stand against unjust laws and advocate for policies that uphold human dignity.

Here’s what we can do:

Contact your legislators

Call or write to your representatives and senators, telling them that they need to oppose any detention centers at Guantanamo Bay or any other location.

Tell them to hold the White House accountable to Christian values centered around justice for immigrants and asylum seekers.

Emphasize the moral and humanitarian concerns of indefinite detention—and that people whose feet hit American soil are entitled to the protections afforded them by the U.S. Constitution.

In many cases, hitting the streets to join protests are an effective means to get the point across about migrant advocacy.

Educate and mobilize

In a world of social media as an influential source of news, it is highly imperative that we beat back against false information and educate others about the reality of true Christian teaching on migrant matters, our defense of human dignity and basic human rights as a Christian value, and appeal to the inhumanity of current public policies being pursued by the White House and Congress.

Share information with everyone you know about the law’s harmful impacts.

Encourage discussions about biblical teachings on justice and immigration in church and other groups.

Speak at civic organizations on these matters like at the Rotary Club or your neighborhood block clubs and Chambers of Commerce.

Support immigrant advocacy organizations

Partner or join groups such as Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) Immigration Advocacy, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), and local immigrant rights organizations like Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR).

Our own church building is home to immigrant and refugee services like Humanity Relief and Edgewater Mutual Aid Network (EMAN), among others.

We have organizations that use our building for Syrian refugee children to have a place to play and study.

We have an organization that helps Nepali senior citizens gather and do activities together.

Pray and take action

Pray for wisdom and courage to speak out against unjust policies, and take direct action by offering sanctuary, legal support, or humanitarian aid to those affected.

The Laken Riley Act does not reflect the values of justice, compassion, or human dignity. As the church, we must reject policies that dehumanize and instead advocate for fair, humane, and biblically grounded immigration reforms.