Immigration on the Ground

Servando Valdovinos is a pastor, author and licensed practical nurse with a heart for the immigrant community. Born in California in 1993 to migrant farmworker parents, his upbringing instilled both a strong work ethic and a deep evangelical faith. He currently serves as pastor of Iglesia Cristiana in Ohio and provides care as a licensed practical nurse in Northwest Ohio. Servando is the author of “Israel & the End of Days” and an active member of the National Hispanic Pastors Alliance in Washington, D.C. He is pursuing a master’s degree in theology at Ashland Theological Seminary.

You pastor a congregation of individuals with varied immigration statuses. In today’s political climate, how has your church been affected, and how have they responded?

In essence, everything has changed. In December 2024, undocumented immigrants who have been in the United States for more than 20 years — who avoided crime, paid taxes and contributed to society — were considered “safe” from deportation.

That has been the case for many years. Both Republican and Democrat administrations over the past 30 years primarily focused on deporting undocumented immigrants who recently arrived or who committed crimes.

But in January 2025, everything changed. Immigration officials have now been directed to deport as many undocumented immigrants as possible, regardless of how much they have contributed to America. We’re talking about grandparents who crossed the border when they were teenagers. Many of them have become deeply rooted in their communities and American society.

Many Latino faith communities hold diverse perspectives on immigration policy. How are you and other pastors navigating these differences and working to foster unity?

Yes, the Latino church is divided on the issue. Some pastors have undocumented immigrants in their congregations, yet they’ve remained silent — or even defended the deportations.

Imagine accepting tithes and offerings from undocumented church members, calling them your brothers and sisters in Christ — yet in the moment when your undocumented flock need you the most, saying nothing in their defense and remaining silent to this day.

I ask you — regardless of whether you are Baptist, Pentecostal, Apostolic, Lutheran or another tradition — if you are undocumented and belong to a Latino church or denomination, check whether your church leadership has spoken up about the deportation of nonviolent undocumented immigrants who have contributed to America for many years.

And if they haven’t, ask them why. If they respond that the church doesn’t get involved in politics, remind them: The church can be pro-life, pro-marriage, and also pro-mercy and pro-forgiveness toward undocumented immigrants.

Church unity will happen when we start living the gospel, not only preaching it.

Public discourse around immigration often includes harmful stereotypes, especially about undocumented individuals. What would you like others to know about the undocumented Christians in your church and community?

Undocumented immigrants who have committed violent crimes should be deported or imprisoned. But in my 32 years of serving the migrant community, I have yet to meet an undocumented immigrant who committed a serious crime.

The media doesn’t report that there are undocumented nurses, bank tellers, pastors, addiction counselors and valedictorians — people who have learned English, love America and want a chance to earn forgiveness. They would love an opportunity to earn legal immigration status by paying significant fines, submitting background checks, completing their education, working or serving in the military, and paying taxes. Legislation, such as the recently reintroduced Dignity Act, could do exactly that.

I understand America must secure its borders and enforce its laws. Immigrants value this, too. But we can still create a merit-based system — one where the evildoers are deported, and hardworking and good human beings are allowed to stay.

Some argue that immigrants place a strain on national resources. Based on your experience, how do you respond to that claim?

The 11 million undocumented immigrants who have been in America for over 20 years are not eligible for Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security or Pell grants. All those programs require a valid Social Security number. They pay taxes using ITINs issued by the government. They pay into the system but can’t reap its benefits.

Yes, there have been programs for asylum seekers from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti and other countries, but most of the 11 million undocumented immigrants did not qualify for this help.

Christians throughout history have faced times of hardship and persecution. How does your personal faith — and that of your congregation — inform your response to the current realities faced by immigrants?

Our faith is grounded in our God who is with us, no matter what happens in this world. I’m reminded of the story in Esther, where Mordecai wonders if Esther was called “for such a time as this.”

Personally, I am “safe” as an American citizen. But that doesn’t mean I can turn a blind eye to what is happening. My participation in this article may strain relationships with certain pastors and churches. That is not my intention. I love America; I love what it stands for. I implore fellow pastors to speak up, as Esther did.

In a world full of division and struggle, it should be the pastor’s voice that is heard — advocating for those who can’t speak for themselves.

How can other Christian communities support immigrant churches and pastors?

There’s a story about a group of people who were praying for a chair to move. They prayed and prayed until — a young man got up and moved the chair. Both prayer and action are essential.

I urge every reader to reconsider the forgiveness of undocumented families who have lived humble, decent lives in America. Pray, speak up and remind the Church of the message of the gospel: repentance, mercy, forgiveness and redemption through Jesus Christ.   

Servando Valdovinos is a pastor, author and licensed practical nurse with a heart for the immigrant community. Born in California in 1993 to migrant farmworker parents, his upbringing instilled both a strong work ethic and a deep evangelical faith. He currently serves as pastor of Iglesia Cristiana in Ohio and provides care as a licensed practical nurse in Northwest Ohio. Servando is the author of “Israel & the End of Days” and an active member of the National Hispanic Pastors Alliance in Washington, D.C. He is pursuing a master’s degree in theology at Ashland Theological Seminary.