A growing movement supported by a majority of Republican voters, as well as some prominent GOP politicians, should be setting off alarm bells for the future of immigration in the United States. I refer to a movement known as Christian Nationalism, which POLITICO reports on as follows:

"Christian nationalism, a belief that the United States was founded as a white, Christian nation and that there is no separation between church and state, is gaining steam on the right."

According to the same report, some prominent GOP politicians, such as Doug Mastriano, the GOP candidate for governor of Pennsylvania, as well as the notorious Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, are embracing this ideology, which is direct violation of the freedom of religion clause of the US constitution. The article also alleges that Florida Governor Ron De Santis, "seems to be flirting with Christian nationalist rhetoric as well."

https://www.politico,com/news/magazine/2022/09/21/most-republicans-support-declaring-the-united-states-a-white-christian-nation-00057736

Why is this movement so dangerous for the future of US immigration? The answer should be obvious.

While most immigrants from Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean are Christians, the great majority of immigrants from Asia, the Middle East, and many parts of Africa are not. They are Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Confucians, or, in the case of Israel and elsewhere, Jewish. A great many immigrants, like many Americans, practice no religion at all.

One can only imagine what our immigration system would be like if visa or immigration benefit applications in the future were to contain questions such as the following (hypothetical):

"Do you recognize Christianity as the official religion of the United States, and affirm that you will not practice any other religion upon entry to the US?"

Or how about this (hypothetical) question:

"Have you EVER been a member of or supported any organization of group that practices or expounds the doctrines of any non-Christion religion or belief; or attended or participated in services at any mosque, synagogue, temple, shrine or other non-Christian place of worship? If "Yes", provide full details concerning each such membership, attendance or participation."

While the above hypothetical questions may seem extreme, they illustrate the point that America's entire immigration system depends on tolerance for and acceptance of equality, diversity and the common humanity of all people, regardless of ethnicity, ancestry or religious belief. Once these basic values, which our enshrined in our constitution and are at the heart of our system of justice, law, and human rights. begin to disappear in America, our immigration system will be in acute danger of disappearing as well.

Nothing in the above comment should be in anyway taken as criticism of Christianity itself - a world religion founded on the principle of universal love for all humankind, and which, in its many various forms, has brought happiness, comfort and hope to untold millions of people in every part of the world during the past two millennia.

My only point is that making any religion an official state religion or forcing its doctrines or practices on society in general runs directly counter the principles of tolerance and equality of all people, on which America's freedom and democracy, including our immigration system, depend.

Roger Algase
Attorney at Law
Harvard Law School LL.B
Harvard College A.B