Focusing on the Plight of Immigrants

Focus on the Family is gaining notice for its new willingness to speak about immigration reform:

One of the most eyebrow-raising names  to join  a group of evangelical leaders to release an “Evangelical Statement of Principles for Immigration Reform” was Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family. The group has usually shied away from the issue publicly, saying the organization is not an expert in the area. Last year, Christianity Today published a  cover story  on how the organization has taken a distinctly different tone and emphasis under Daly than it did under its founder, James Dobson. Previously, we  have noted  how evangelical groups were previously hesitant to take a stance on immigration, including Focus on the Family. For instance, the Family Research Council, which was founded by Dobson, does not have a representative on today’s list.

However, several changes among leadership and priorities have paved the way for other leaders connected with evangelical institutions to take a stance. Other  names  included Max Lucado, Russell Moore, Margaret Feinberg, J.D. Greear, and Timothy George. Organizations included World Relief, Bread for the World, the Southern Baptist Covention’s Ethics & Public Policy Center, Esperanza, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, and the National Association of Evangelicals. Daly could not attend the gathering of several evangelical organizations on Tuesday, but longtime Focus staffer Tom Minnery will join the release.

The statement outlines principles without endorsing specific policies, but still, a notable step for Focus.