The Brian Lehrer Show A Christian Perspective on the Politics of Immigration
Apr 2, 2026
Reverend Juan Carlos Ruiz, a Lutheran pastor who ministers to immigrant and undocumented communities, reflects on faith-shaped responses to immigration. He recounts his own arrival and ministry. He critiques over-militarized border policies, discusses Jesus’ call to humble service, and describes his congregation’s radical hospitality to mixed-status families.
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Pastor Ruiz's Undocumented Arrival Story
- Juan Carlos Ruiz came to the U.S. as an unaccompanied minor in the late 1980s and lived undocumented while reuniting with family.
- He describes a family forced to migrate after peso collapse, with a father who crossed the border to work and support six children and their mother.
Border Control Versus Weaponized Enforcement
- Ruiz accepts border control but warns the border is over-militarized and immigration policy is being weaponized against vulnerable groups.
- He links harsh enforcement to broader rollbacks in civil rights affecting immigrants and LGBTQ+ communities.
Practice Radical Hospitality Like Jesus
- Do center ministry on serving the vulnerable using Jesus's example of humility and service, like washing feet.
- Ruiz says prophetic tradition pushes leaders to bend power toward the needs of those without safety or dignity.