This is a reminder to Utah’s national congressional delegation, governor and members of Utah’s Legislature who are or can be called Christians.
Jesus wasn’t speaking in parables when he gave his famous sermon to go to the aid of the “strangers” (foreigners) in our midst. He wasn’t being rhetorical. He was delineating a course of action for real-life circumstances.
He was speaking of real people — like the international students in Utah and across the country who have had their student visas revoked by the Trump administration. Certainly, these students, in most cases, qualify as “least of these” as spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 25 in the New Testament.
As our elected officials, you have the force multiplier of 3.5 million Utahns. I beg you to use that power to stand up for those who are vulnerable and underrepresented. Demand from Washington that these student visas be reinstated unless compelling evidence is transparently provided that justifies their removal.
That’s exactly what Christ would do and what he literally expects you to do. Of course, his clarion call to give aid to the marginalized goes far beyond foreign students.
Don’t think I’m singling you out. Christ’s expectation applies equally to me and every other Utahn. If we’re not willing to defend the people who can do nothing for us then we can expect Jesus to refuse to acknowledge us when he returns to earth in the near future.
Steve Hawkins, South Jordan
