Prayer for the Immigration Crises

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing (Deuteronomy 10: 17-18 NIV).

Heavenly Father, a steady influx of people from more than 150 nations enters the U.S. daily for so many reasons, and not all are well-meaning. Some are human traffickers, some are drug smugglers, and some are terrorists. Lord, I pray for a change in heart of these traffickers and those that are buying people, just as You stopped Saul in his tracks and changed his heart, change their hearts as well. Place a hedge of protection around the body, mind, soul and spirit of these survivors of trafficking. I pray for the missing children that have been trafficked, Lord bring to light where they are and bring justice to those who are perpetrating these crimes against the most vulnerable.

However Lord, I recognize not every immigrant is a criminal. A few may be seeking to escape violence and terror. Some may seek a better life for themselves and their families. Some, in desperation, choose to come to the US illegally for quicker entry. My heart is sad that so many people feel their only option is to leave their home and all they know. Many travel hundreds or thousands of miles, in circumstances of great danger for themselves and their families, which means that what they are trying to escape

However, we have legal processes and procedures that must be respected and restored. Lord, help our Homeland Security and border officials to obey our laws and do what is right in this challenging situation. I pray that you would help them to discern and expedite where necessary the process.

Your Word clarifies that You have a heart for foreigners, just as You do for orphans and widows. Lord, You see every situation these people face, and You have the ability to make a way. Make a way Lord for their countries to be safe. Change the hearts of those who are terrorizing other countries also. Where they truly need refuge, make a legal way for them to safely come here. I pray they would encounter Christ and that You would give them wisdom in how to make their country a safer place. 

Lord I ask for wisdom and uprightness so our lawmakers will obey our federal immigration laws and correct the severe flaws in our immigration system. There has to be a better way than what we are doing currently. Families do not need to be torn apart. Terrorist should not have free rein in this country. US citizens should not be forced to pay for things for immigrants that we don’t even have a right to as citizens. Our judicial system should not be backlogged with cases of those who are trying to enter legally and become citizens.

Lord, there are too many countries that people are fleeing from, provide a way for their country to be changed. Bring safety. Bring peace. Bring provision. Lord, we may not see the way, but You know what needs to happen to make all countries a place where people can live in freedom, safety and meet their needs. In Jesus name amen.