Mennonite Weekly Review

The Center for Immigration Studies released a report last month that claimed immigration to the United States is a significant contributor to global warming. When people move to the United States from lower- emitting countries, the report contends, their greenhouse gas emissions multiply.

While it is true that the migration of people from poorer to richer countries will, in general, increase greenhouse gas emissions, this type of reasoning could also be extended to argue that keeping more U.S. citizens in poverty would curb global warming. By the same logic, war, genocide and mass starvation would also go a long way toward reducing greenhouse emissions.

Josh Bernstein, director of federal policy at the National Immigration Law Center, noted how the report’s authors distorted the calculations. “There’s a lot of things you can do to reduce global warming that you don’t necessarily want to do,” Bernstein said. “[An economic] depression would reduce emissions, too, but that’s not a way to go about addressing climate change.”

Reports such as the one from CIS are not only disingenuous but incredibly disturbing in their reasoning: If everyone else stays in poverty, then we won’t have to change our own behavior.

Blaming immigrants for climate change is preposterous. If we really want to address global warming, we can start by looking in the mirror.

Citizens of the United States, though we make up less than 5 percent of the world’s population, are responsible for roughly 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. We must take responsibility, as individuals and as a society, for the harm we are causing and take immediate steps to reduce our carbon footprint.

As for migration, people come to the United States because they see the opportunity for a better life. In that respect, we should be proud of what we have created — but not so proud that we seek to hoard it for ourselves.

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house?” (Isaiah 58:6-7).

Radical hospitality — a common theme in the Old Testament and throughout the Gospels — is what should shape our actions.

People also come to this country as a direct result of U.S. policies — neo-liberal economic policies that have negatively impacted farmers and food prices, as well as foreign policies that have supported corrupt, abusive governments. Why are we so quick to judge others and take no responsibility for our own failings?

The next U.S. Congress is likely to take up both immigration reform and climate change legislation. As you go to the ballot box this November, consider the candidates’ policies carefully. Are the policies rooted in love and responsible action? Or are they rooted in fear and blame? Do we want elected officials who will build more walls and more jails and further militarize our borders? Or do we want people who will work to reform our trade policies and our broken immigration system?

We can’t run from our responsibility — as individuals and as a nation — to address climate change. Neither should we run from our responsibility as disciples of Christ to deal justly and generously with those seeking to lift themselves up out of poverty and make a better life.