Is illegal immigration a sin in the Christian sense?

[Axtremus]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/us/southern-baptists-immigration-trump.html

“I would not knowingly extend communion to an illegal immigrant who is visiting our church,” [a Southern Baptist pastor] said. “That person would be in sin by being in this country illegally, and Christians should obey the law of the land.”

Something I have thought of before but haven't settled on an answer:

Is illegal entry or unauthorized presence in a country (by secular legal standards) considered a "sin" in the Christian sense?

On a spectrum of "illegal entry" and "unauthorized presence," which of the following are considered "sins" in the Christian sense?

1. "Breaking and entering" a private residence or business establishment
2. "Squatting" -- unauthorized prolonged presence in a sheltered space without paying rent (or, for that matter, while owing lots of back rent and the rightful property owner has asked you to leave)
3. "Trespassing" -- say, you walk into an open space that is behind a "no trespassing" sign, you see the sign, but there was also no one else there to stop you
4. "Illegal immigration" in the sense of, say, someone slipping into a country (that normally requires a visa) without getting a visa
5. "Unauthorized presence" in the sense of, say, overstaying a visa

Any of the above strikes you as a "sin" in the Christian sense? Why or why not?

[Piano*Dad]

The concept of "illegal immigration" is modern. You will find nothing scriptural addressing the modern conception of "illegally" crossing a border.

The broader issues of "uphold the law" versus "welcome the foreigner" are addressed here.

I don't think you will find any support for ICE raids in here.

https://biblehub.com/q/bible's_view_on_illegal_immigration.htm

[Steve Miller]

It all depends on how you choose to define sin.

It’s a pretty flexible concept and changes regularly.

[Bernard]

It seems irrelevant unless one is a creed affirming adherent.

Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, ...

I think, if one takes the life of Jesus as one's model, compassion and fairness would take precedence. Isn't that what makes a christian a Christian?

One wonders how many adulterers (and other "sinners") the minister extends communion to on a daily basis.

[jon-nyc]

As I put it next door, we’ve seen this movie plenty of times.

1 - select your desired opinion
2 - look in the Bible for supportive phrases
3 - declare your desired opinion biblically correct
4 - tell everyone there can be no other Christian opinion on the matter, since you believe in the infallibility of [your interpretation of] the Bible. The part in brackets is unspoken but implied.