Is a few extra dollars in your paycheck, or paying a little less in taxes, worth compromising your morals? Would you allow your teenage daughter to be alone with either Donald J. Trump or Matt Gaetz, knowing what Trump has been convicted of and what Gaetz has been charged with? These questions should trouble anyone who values decency, justice, and the principles their faith demands. Yet, just weeks ago, nearly three-quarters of the voting American population overlooked these issues and re-elected Donald Trump as president.
Their vote was not just an endorsement of Trump’s policies but also a tacit approval of his character—or lack thereof. Now, emboldened by a second term, Trump has pledged sweeping actions that stand in stark contrast to the very moral and Christian values his supporters claim to uphold. Chief among these is his plan to enact the largest mass deportation in American history, a move that will tear families apart, devastate communities, and deepen divisions in an already fractured nation.
Mass Deportations: When Families Are Expendable
Trump’s promise to launch mass deportations on his first day back in office is not just rhetoric—it’s a plan designed to inflict maximum harm on immigrant communities. His newly announced immigration czar, Tom Homan, has already made his stance clear: when families are targeted for deportation, he will deport the entire family, including U.S.-born children who are citizens.
This policy isn’t just cruel—it’s a betrayal of America’s founding principles. The idea of separating families or forcing children born on U.S. soil to leave their home country underscores a chilling disregard for the humanity of immigrants. It echoes the darkest chapters of American history, from the forced removal of Native Americans to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
The pseudo-God-fearing right, which loudly proclaims its commitment to family values, has remained largely silent or supportive of these measures. Where is their outrage? Where is their defense of the sanctity of family? Once again, their moral compass seems to point only toward what is politically expedient.
The Historical Context of Immigration and Race
Since the 1930s, the face of immigration in America has shifted, becoming overwhelmingly people of color. This change has not gone unnoticed by those who seek to preserve a vision of America rooted in whiteness. Policies like mass deportations disproportionately target Latino, Asian, and African immigrants, perpetuating a legacy of racial discrimination that has long been woven into the fabric of U.S. immigration law.
Just as the Black Lives Matter movement arose to confront the systemic killing of Black people by law enforcement, immigrants must now mobilize to assert their humanity in the face of this administration’s sweeping xenophobia. The parallels are clear: just as Black Americans have had to fight to prove that their lives matter, immigrants must now fight to show that their contributions, families, and dreams are as valid as those of native-born citizens.
The Pseudo-God-Fearing Right’s Contradictions
The moral contradictions of the pseudo-God-fearing right become even more glaring when viewed through this lens. They claim to uphold the Ten Commandments, yet their actions and allegiances often betray these principles:
– Thou shalt not commit adultery: Trump’s extramarital affairs and sexual misconduct are conveniently overlooked.
– Thou shalt not bear false witness: Trump’s lies on the campaign trail and in office are dismissed as part of his “strategy.”
– Honor thy father and mother: Deporting immigrant grandfathers, grandmothers, and parents undermines the very idea of familial respect.
How can they claim moral authority while supporting leaders who so flagrantly violate these commandments? Are these principles only applicable to their opponents?
Faith as a Political Tool
Many evangelical Trump supporters justify their allegiance by pointing to his pro-life stance and judicial appointments. Yet, their definition of “life” seems selective. Where is the concern for the lives of immigrant families being torn apart? Where is the empathy for the children forced to leave the only country they’ve ever known?
Much like their selective interpretation of the Constitution, the pseudo God-fearing right applies their faith selectively, using it as a weapon against political opponents while excusing their own moral failings. This weaponization of faith not only undermines their credibility but also alienates those who see through the hypocrisy.
When Will It Be Enough?
History has shown that once marginalized groups are targeted, the targeting rarely stops there. The same administration that dehumanizes immigrants today could turn its sights on other vulnerable communities tomorrow. This is why it is imperative for people of conscience—regardless of their faith or political affiliation—to stand up and speak out.
Immigrants are not just statistics. They are grandmothers and grandfathers, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters. They are workers who build our homes, harvest our food, and care for our children. They are dreamers who believe in the promise of America, even when that promise seems impossibly far away.
A Call to Action
If the pseudo God-fearing right truly believes in the sanctity of family and the moral principles they espouse, they must confront the contradictions in their actions. Supporting policies that tear families apart and dehumanize entire communities is not an act of faith—it is an act of fear and political expediency.
The Bible teaches, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). If the least among us include immigrants, the poor, and the marginalized, then what does it say about a movement that turns its back on them in the name of politics?
The question remains: When do morals matter? When do we hold our leaders accountable? And at what cost will we continue to overlook behavior that defies decency and humanity?
Now more than ever, it is time to ask these questions—and demand better answers.