Cruelty is Not Christian

Love & Compassion

Jesus taught that love is the foundation of everything. When asked about the greatest commandment, he didn't hesitate—love God, and love others as yourself.

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

— Matthew 22:37-39

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

— John 13:34-35

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

— 1 John 4:7-8

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

— 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Treatment of Enemies

Jesus went beyond teaching us to love our friends and neighbors. He called us to love even those who oppose us, to respond to hatred with kindness, and to break the cycle of cruelty.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

— Matthew 5:43-44

"But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also."

— Luke 6:27-29

"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord."

— Romans 12:17-19

Care for the Vulnerable

How we treat the most vulnerable among us reveals our true character. Scripture is clear: we are called to protect, defend, and care for those who cannot care for themselves.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me... Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

— Matthew 25:35-36, 40

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

— James 1:27

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

— Proverbs 31:8-9

"This is what the Lord Almighty said: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.'"

— Zechariah 7:9-10

Judgment & Mercy

We are all imperfect. Jesus taught us to extend grace and mercy rather than harsh judgment, to examine our own hearts before condemning others.

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

— Matthew 7:1-2

"But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, 'Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.'"

— John 8:6-7

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

— Luke 6:36-37

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

— Micah 6:8

"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment."

— James 2:12-13

The Cruelty of ICE Enforcement

These biblical principles aren't just ancient wisdom—they call us to action today. Current immigration enforcement practices by ICE demonstrate cruelty that directly contradicts Christian teachings about compassion, care for the vulnerable, and basic human dignity.

Families Torn Apart

A Chinese father and his 6-year-old son were separated during a routine ICE check-in. The father was sent to a detention facility upstate, while the son's whereabouts remain unknown—leaving a young child lost in the system, separated from his only parent.

"Unnecessarily Cruel" Detention Conditions

A federal judge called conditions at the Broadview ICE facility "unnecessarily cruel" after hearing testimony about detainees sleeping on floors next to overflowing toilets surrounded by human waste, receiving only 2-3 bottles of water and cold sandwiches daily, and being denied basic hygiene supplies like soap and toothbrushes.

Postpartum Mothers Separated from Newborns

Nayra Guzmán was detained just 15 days after giving birth via C-section, while her newborn daughter remained hospitalized in the NICU struggling to breathe. During 34 hours in detention, she was denied a breast pump despite actively nursing, received limited food and water, had only a bench to sleep on, and received no medical assessment despite recovering from major surgery and managing Type 1 diabetes. She later lost her breast milk supply.

Fear and Trauma at Child Care Centers

ICE agents detained a mother outside an Issaquah preschool, with armed agents later appearing at the facility's door. This created what officials called an "atmosphere of fear" throughout communities, leading to declining enrollment at child care centers, children absorbing parental anxiety during critical developmental years, and even U.S.-born Latino staff members reporting feeling targeted.