Q380 - Is It Morally Justified for a Government To Deport Foreigners

Well, every country has its own sovereignty and must provide for the material welfare and security of its people. This is a legitimate responsibility. It can be compared, in some way, to a household. The father of a family has the primary duty to ensure the security and well-being of his own family and children.

When someone comes into the home especially if their presence threatens or disturbs the welfare of the family the father must prioritize the well-being of his household. The same principle applies to a nation.

Now, I don’t know the concrete situation in the United States, but if the presence of illegal immigrants increases significantly and causes proven harm or damage, then they may need to be removed. However, even in the case of deporting illegal immigrants, the government must act with justice and in accordance with the basic law of charity and love for one’s neighbor. It must avoid causing unnecessary harm especially to families, who may have children, and whose situation can be very vulnerable.

In such cases, some basic guarantees should be provided to them. If they are deported, it depends on which country they are being sent back to. If there are real dangers to their life or their faith in that country, then it would not be just to deport them.

So, I would say that the government must examine each case individually before making a decision. The principle of deportation itself depends entirely on the concrete situation of the country that has accepted these individuals.