Immigration Part 2 - Defining the System

Episode Title: Immigration – Defining the System (Part 2)

We’re back with Part 2 of our immigration series, and this time we’re taking a deeper dive—not into people, but into the system itself. In Part 1, we defined immigration. In this episode, we’re asking: what do we mean when we say “the immigration system is broken”?

Before we dive into the heavier topics, we start with a fun conversation: if we could live in any country outside the U.S., where would it be? From New Zealand to Singapore, our answers give a glimpse into how we each view the world—and what draws us to different cultures.

Then we define the system:

• What is the immigration system actually composed of?

• Which agencies are involved (USCIS, CBP, ICE, EOIR)?

• How do people enter, live, work, or become citizens?

• And is the system truly broken—or is it the way we use (and change) it that causes the dysfunction?

In this episode, we cover:

• The impact of political cycles on the system’s stability

• The difference between flawed leadership and a flawed system

• Why it’s difficult to judge a system that keeps getting rewritten

• The real cost of backlogs, delays, and inconsistent enforcement

• How we talk about immigrants—and the power of our language

• Whether it’s possible to separate policy from people

• The responsibility of the Church in this conversation

This episode asks hard questions and resists easy answers. We don’t all agree on everything—but we’re committed to wrestling through the conversation thoughtfully and biblically.

We’d love to hear your input, questions, or feedback. You can reach us at aburdenforthetimes@gmail.com.

Thanks for Listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!