Black Faith Leaders Respond to Rising Anti-Immigrant Sentiment in U.S. Churches

Black pastors and faith leaders across the United States are pushing back against what they describe as a rise in anti-immigrant sentiment within some American churches, calling on congregations to return to biblical principles of hospitality and justice.

The response comes amid a broader national debate over immigration policy. The Trump administration's refugee cap of 17,500 slots has drawn criticism from religious advocates who say it prioritizes certain groups over persecuted minorities from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Bishop Claude Alexander of The Park Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, addressed the issue directly in a sermon that circulated widely on social media in late September. "The church cannot be a place where the politics of fear override the commands of scripture," he said. "We are called to welcome the stranger. That is not optional."

Several Black-led denominations, including the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the National Baptist Convention, have issued statements affirming their commitment to immigrant communities. Both organizations have called on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

The issue has particular resonance in Black churches, where many congregants have family ties to Caribbean, African, and Central American immigrant communities. Pastors say they are seeing increased anxiety among immigrant members of their congregations.

Some church leaders are also pointing to the historical parallels between current immigration debates and the treatment of Black Americans during the Great Migration, when Black families faced hostility and discrimination as they moved from the South to northern cities.

The National Immigration Forum, which works with faith communities on immigration advocacy, says it has seen a significant increase in requests from Black churches for resources on how to support immigrant members.