The well known parable of Lazarus and the rich man highlights the consequence of the rich man’s lack of compassion for the poor man, Lazarus. I have always found though that the real egregious sin on the part of the rich man is not his lack of charity towards Lazarus while he was alive, but his expectation in the next life that Lazarus be pressed into service to improve the afterlife of his brothers. It’s one thing to refuse help to the poor, it’s quite another thing to use the poor for one’s personal gain.

Sadly, this dynamic repeatedly plays itself out in many facets of everyday life, in ways great and small. Recently, one of the more disturbing examples of this has been the response to the issue of immigration by some of our country’s elected officials. Certain governors have been transporting immigrants and refugees who have crossed the border into the US to other locations, mostly to states and cities that broadcast sanctuary status. A most recent example occurred last week when about 50 Venezuelan refugees, who had crossed the border in Texas, were flown by the governor of Florida to Martha’s Vineyard, MA.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that a couple of the refugees were employed to solicit the required number of refugees for the flight, with unfulfilled promises of food, shelter and employment at their arrival. Although consent forms were signed by the refugees prior to travel, questions remained as to whether they fully understood what they were signing. Local agencies in Massachusetts were not forewarned so that they could be adequately prepared to receive and service the refugees. Thankfully, the people of Martha’s Vineyard rose to the challenge and responded with great charity. This scenario has also played out in other sanctuary cities, including Chicago.

The justification for the relocation of immigrants and refugees to other states, given by these elected officials, has focused on the burden the border states have had to bear with the overwhelming number of crossings into the U.S. They have claimed that our current immigration system is broken and that it is only fair that other states share in the burden of responding to the ensuing crisis. In that sense, these elected officials are correct. Our current immigration policies are not working, and comprehensive immigration reform is urgently needed. They are right in saying border states do not have the capacity to adequately respond to the many humanitarian needs on their own. And as a country, all communities should do their proportionate share in responding to this crisis.

But, there is more going on here. It is apparent that through these busses and flights, immigrants and refugees are being used as pawns in the increasingly contentious political theater that has become the norm in our country. As was the case with the rich man wanting to use Lazarus in the next life for his own personal gain, the human dignity and rights of immigrants and refugees are being violated for the sake of gaining political favor with voters.

The U.S. bishop’s pastoral statement “Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity” clearly presents the Church’s teaching on immigration and the movement of peoples. It proposes three basic principles as part of that teaching.

The First Principle: People have a right to migrate to sustain their lives and the lives of their families. When a person cannot provide for themselves or their family in their native country, they have a right to move elsewhere.

The Second Principle: A country has the right to regulate its borders and to control immigration. This principle recognizes that countries need to regulate immigration so as to preserve the social and economic life of all its residents.

The Third Principle: A country must regulate its border with justice and mercy. This principle helps to us to understand the seeming contradiction between the first and second principles. A nation’s right to limit immigration is not an absolute, devoid of any sense of justice, mercy or interest in the common good, particularly towards the poor, the undocumented, the immigrant and the refugee. Every person has an inherent God-given human dignity, and basic human rights to food, shelter, clothing, education, and health care. Extra care must be given to immigrants as they are often the most vulnerable members of society who are unable to complain of exploitation or mistreatment for fear of discovery or deportation.

Furthermore, Sacred Scripture illustrate the special place that God has in his heart for immigrants and refugees. For forty years, God’s chosen people, the Israelites, wandered in the dessert, before they settled in the land of Canaan. All the while, God cared for the Israelites by guiding them to safety, and providing them with the sustenance they needed for the journey.

Shortly after Jesus’ birth, the Holy Family became refugees and fled to Egypt to protect the Christ Child from King Herod’s evil intentions. They stayed in Egypt until it was safe for them to return. God himself warned Joseph through a dream of the impending danger. And God also advised him when the danger had subsided. But, the important thing to note here is that Jesus, the very Son of God himself was a refugee!

Can we not see Jesus in modern day refugees? Can we not see Lazarus in immigrants looking to provide for their families? Can we stop using immigrants and refugees as pawns in our partisan fights, and instead work toward bipartisan legislation that truly addresses the issue, while at the same time being faithful to the Church’s teaching on immigration? These are important questions that need to be resolved collectively and individually, lest we find ourselves like the rich man, seeking relief from the reversal of fortunes that the Gospels pointedly tell us will come in the next life.

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