Addressing the Root Cause of the Flood Tide of Immigration

A tidal wave of immigration, both legal and illegal, continues to flood the developed and western world. Why? Why do people leave their homes to flee to this country, and the West? Two major causes are usually cited: persecution and poverty. Refugees’ countries can almost be defined by broken governance and/or economic failure.

Political dysfunction takes several forms, usually authoritarian regimes such as tribal dictatorship or small but ruthless political cliques, but also tribal conflict, and so forth. In western democracies, the basis for a functioning political system includes: cooperation between people who disagree, within an agreed framework; respect for all who are created equal before God; and protection of civil and human rights. Everyone has a share and a stake in governance.

Third world countries are most often defined economically, as exploited or ”developing”. Almost everyone lives in poverty, with no jobs or starvation wages. Why does this happen? There seem to be a few driving causes: class structure of wealthy and poor, with no middle class; command driven economies distorted by politics (government policies, laws, etc.); graft and corruption awarding business to the person paying the highest bribe with no relationship to economic or business realities; exploitation of workers by wealthy countries. How can free markets flourish when multinational corporations distort local economies to their own advantage and exploit indigenous workers? Shades of the Boston Tea Party! No wonder those with intelligence or initiative heads to the developed world!

What can we do to improve the conditions in refugees’ countries of origin that caused them to leave? How can anyone establish the fabric of a civil society and political process in failed states? What can our national strategy do to encourage and sustain a functioning culture? Is it cultural imperialism to try to turn people from tribal warfare and political thuggery to civic engagement and civil discourse? Is that even possible?  Logical questions for our nation would be: What foreign policy would promote stable democracies and economic growth in the third world? If we seriously try to export values, which ones? Wouldn’t this constitute cultural imperialism, and would that be good or bad? Which actions would impact other nations most positively?

Debating this at the foreign policy level will never eliminate the real root cause; spiritual strongholds can only be brought down through prayer and fasting. Immigrants may perceive less demonic influence on society here than their homeland, but that distinction is rapidly disappearing. And emigrating won’t help them at all if they bring their demons with them. [We can’t possibly screen applicants for this, but to achieve the goal of a better life, they must renounce broken life choices with their spiritual attendants.] The only approach to immigration with hope of long term success would be a national strategy and foreign policy that results from fasting, prayer, and seeking God; a strategy to build the kingdom of God. Man’s government cannot do this. Outcomes with value can only be wrought through spiritual labor and sacrifice.