The announcement by President-elect Donald J. Trump regarding the potential use of a national emergency declaration and military resources to execute mass deportations of undocumented immigrants has ignited yet another fiery debate. As an independent Christian conservative, I approach this issue with two guiding principles: the need to protect national sovereignty and the Biblical command to love our neighbors. Balancing these two values is no small task, but it is vital if we’re to chart a course that honors both God and country.

Let’s address the elephant in the room: the moral and logistical challenges of deporting millions of people. It’s true that America must enforce its immigration laws. Borders exist for a reason, and a nation without them ceases to function as a sovereign state. Scripture affirms the role of government to maintain order. Romans 13:1-2 says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” That means the government has not only the right but the responsibility to uphold laws that protect its citizens.

However, there’s a difference between enforcing the law and wielding it like a blunt instrument. Deporting millions of people at once isn’t just financially and logistically daunting; it risks tearing apart families, communities, and even churches. Yes, churches. Many undocumented immigrants are our brothers and sisters in Christ. The Bible calls us to care for the sojourner and the stranger, as in Leviticus 19:34: “But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself.”

Now, this doesn’t mean we turn a blind eye to illegal immigration or fail to secure our borders. It means we approach the issue with wisdom and grace. Deportation efforts should prioritize those who have committed serious crimes, not hardworking families trying to give their children a better future. If President Trump’s plan uses military resources, those resources must also be wielded with precision and compassion. The idea of “vast holding facilities” makes me uneasy because it conjures images of detention camps that might strip people of their dignity. America is better than that. We must hold fast to the belief that every human being is created in the image of God, even those who crossed a border without permission.

From a practical standpoint, let’s not kid ourselves about the cost. $88 billion a year is a hefty price tag, especially when our national debt is already through the roof. And that’s just to deport a million people annually. Attempting to deport all 11 million undocumented immigrants would not only bankrupt us financially but also strain our national conscience. I can’t help but think of Luke 14:28, where Jesus warns, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?”

So, where does this leave us? President Trump has every right to enforce immigration laws, and his use of a national emergency declaration is within his authority. But conservatives like me must urge him to temper strength with mercy. Let’s focus on securing the border to prevent further illegal immigration, while creating pathways for those already here to regularize their status if they meet stringent criteria. Let’s protect families, honor the rule of law, and remember that America’s strength has always been its ability to uphold justice while extending mercy.

This issue isn’t about politics; it’s about people. Every policy decision must be measured not just by its efficiency but by its impact on lives. After all, Jesus Himself said in Matthew 25:40, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” That’s a standard worth keeping in mind, even in the thorny arena of immigration policy.