The Importance of Borders (by Steve C. Halbrook)

Scripture says, “Cursed be anyone who moves his neighbor's landmark” (Deuteronomy 27:17a). Outsiders no more have the right to move a nation’s boundaries (by contempt for them or by seeking to eliminate them) than a thief does to move an individual’s property line.

After leaving Egypt, the Israelites requested permission from the Amorites to pass through their land (Numbers 21:21, 22). Unless this was done solely out of pragmatism to avoid a military confrontation, this would be an example of respecting national borders by not traversing them without permission.

In any case, national borders define a nation’s boundaries and its civil jurisdiction; as such, they are to be respected. Borders lose their significance if a nation don't have any say as to who can enter the country, which compromises national security and the rule of law. The eradication of borders via mass illegal immigration therefore breeds lawlessness and rival jurisdictional claims that can lead to civil unrest and war.

Since, by the nature of the case, borders are a national security and jurisdictional matter, they are a concern of the state. As such, the state has a duty to protect their integrity, which includes a lawful immigration process.

From Border Meltdown: Biblical Principles to Address our Immigration Crisis by Steve C. Halbrook