Why is it so difficult for many churches to take a clear stance on immigration? In this episode of Hope in Action, we explore the tension many congregations feel at the intersection of faith, fear, and politics. We talk honestly about why pastors often hesitate to address immigration from the pulpit, and what you can do to fill this gap, if you feel compelled to.

Later in the episode, we’re joined by former pastor and The Immigration Coalition founder Rondell Treviño, who shares candid insight into what it felt like to navigate immigration conversations from the pulpit. He reflects on political pressure, fear of rejection, identity confusion, and how Christians can “live in the tension” — loving both country and neighbor without collapsing into fear or partisanship.

We close with practical encouragement for both pastors and congregants: small, faithful steps that create space for courage. Because boldness doesn’t always look like a protest or a policy statement. Sometimes it can be as simple as a single sentence in a prayer.

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As Christians, what does it look like to live out our faith while walking alongside immigrants and communities of other religions? And to do so out of compassion, instead of converting them or debating theology? For Christians, these questions bring fears of compromising their faith. But what if serving those of different religions matters more than converting them?

Working in service of immigrants and refugees regularly places Christians in unfamiliar settings, or requires us to understand what seem like big cultural differences. This episode explores what it means to show up faithfully in those moments, even when they feel unfamiliar or challenging.

We talk through real experiences of working alongside people of different faith traditions, and discuss how they have shaped our own identity as Christians. The purpose of this episode is to provide a space to think honestly about faithfulness, discomfort, and what it means to walk with others, honoring both our convictions and their dignity.

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Communities across the U.S. are shaken by recent deaths connected to federal immigration enforcement (ICE), and many people are left sitting with grief, fear, confusion, and anger. In this episode, we name that anger directly and ask what it means for Christians to respond faithfully when state power results in civilian deaths.

Rather than rushing to conclusions or political talking points, we focus on the human reality of loss and the spiritual work required to face it honestly. We’re joined by Dr. Jer Swigart, co-founder and executive director of Global Immersion, who helps us think through the difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking, and why anger is not something Christians must suppress. Jer invites us to consider how to befriend anger without allowing it to turn into dehumanizing rage, and how love, not anger, must ultimately be the fuel that sustains long-term faithfulness.

Throughout the episode, we explore how Christians can hold grief, anger, and a commitment to peace together without losing our humanity. We talk about lament and accountability, as well as practical advice for anyone navigating their own sense of righteous anger and indignation.

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When the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security publicly confuses refugees and asylum seekers, two legally distinct categories in U.S. and international law, it's more than a small mistake.

Words matter here, and when the person responsible for overseeing refugee admissions and asylum processing doesn't communicate clearly, it's no wonder the rest of the country isn’t clear on the facts. Treating refugees and asylees as interchangeable leads to policies that are sloppy at best and harmful at worst.

Tune in today to learn why precision in language creates humanity, while sewing confusion creates fear and division. We discuss how current policies like the historically low refugee ceiling and Project PARRIS are affecting real families, and you'll discover how these policies totally ignore what the Bible says about welcoming the stranger and how scripture frames justice as attentiveness to the vulnerable.

*Note: While Project Parris remains ongoing, a recent court ruling (1/28) now prohibits ICE from arresting or detaining refugees during the re-vetting process discussed in this episode.

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You might think welcoming refugees or newcomers sounds like a huge commitment, offering up your home, and pausing your own life entirely. However, welcome really looks like many different small acts of kindness. And when we do this in community, these small actions create a massive difference.

In this episode, you’ll learn why listening comes before acting, and why ordinary people, not experts, are the backbone of welcoming new members of our communities. You'll hear how scripture calls us to hospitality as a discipleship practice, not a political statement. And we're also joined by Krista Kartson from Welcome.US, who shares her journey from equipping sponsors to becoming one herself, walking alongside Afghan and Ukrainian families in her own community.

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Today, we discuss separation at the border, through immigration detention, through arrests at green card interviews or ICE check-ins, and the so-called permanent bar that can force a family apart forever. We’re joined by Ashley DeAzevedo from American Families United, who shares powerful stories of the 1.4 million US citizens currently facing the permanent bar and its devastating impact on their families.

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We explore ICE operations, detention centers, and the harsh conditions where 70% of detainees have no criminal conviction. From the Stewart Detention Center in Georgia - notorious for having the most deaths of any ICE facility - to violent arrests in our communities, we examine what's happening when immigration enforcement strips away human dignity.

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Through stories from the Afghanistan evacuation, encounters at the US-Mexico border, and our daily work with immigrant families, we examine how faith sustains us through the heaviest moments while celebrating the victories that make it all worthwhile. You'll discover practical ways to engage in conversations about immigration, understand the real human impact behind policy decisions, and learn how small acts of compassion create ripples of change in our communities.

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