House Speaker Mike Johnson responded to Pope Leo XIV’s criticism of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies by arguing that “borders and walls are biblical” and essential for civil order. Speaking to reporters, Johnson said Scripture supports both welcoming the sojourner and maintaining national borders, emphasizing that commands to love and care for strangers are directed to individuals, not civil authorities. “Sovereign borders are biblical and good and right,” Johnson said, adding that governments are called to “maintain order” and enforce the law.
Johnson stressed that immigration itself is not condemned in the Bible, but that assimilation is expected. “When someone comes into your country… they are expected to assimilate,” he said, arguing that newcomers do not have the right to change a nation’s laws or culture. He contrasted this view with Pope Leo XIV’s citation of Matthew 25:35 about welcoming the stranger, saying such passages are often taken out of context.
In a detailed post on X, Johnson outlined what he called the Bible’s four spheres of authority — the individual, family, church, and civil government — asserting that civil authorities are biblically mandated to uphold the law. Citing passages from Romans, Deuteronomy, Acts, and Nehemiah, Johnson argued that Scripture affirms distinct nations, borders, and walls. “Justice and mercy are not mutually exclusive pursuits,” he wrote. “Supporting a strong national border is a very Christian thing to do.”
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