House Speaker Mike Johnson Fires Back at Pope With Scripture: Borders Are Biblical

House Speaker Mike Johnson Uses the Bible to Defend Strong Borders After Pope Leo Criticizes Immigration Policy

House Speaker Mike Johnson delivered a lengthy biblical defense of strong borders on February 5, directly challenging Pope Leo XIV after the Pope cited Matthew 25:35 to criticize mass deportation policies. Johnson argued that Scripture gives civil authorities a clear mandate to maintain law and order.

Johnson told reporters that "borders and walls are biblical" from the Old Testament to the New, stating that God has allowed nations to set up civil societies with separate boundaries. He cited Acts 17:26, which describes God determining the boundaries of nations.

"Sovereign borders are biblical and good and right, because we love the people on the inside"

House Speaker Mike Johnson at a press gaggle on February 5, 2026

The Speaker outlined what he called four God ordained spheres of authority: the individual, family, church, and civil government. Each sphere, Johnson argued, carries different responsibilities, with civil government specifically tasked with maintaining order and enforcing laws.

Speaker Johnson Cites Old and New Testament to Make the Christian Case for Border Security

Johnson cited Romans 13:4, which describes civil authorities as "God's agents of wrath to bring punishment upon the wrongdoer," to argue that government has a biblical responsibility to enforce immigration law. He also referenced Leviticus 19 and Deuteronomy 31:12 on the treatment of strangers.

On the question of assimilation, Johnson was direct: "When someone comes into your country, comes into your nation, they do not have the right to change its laws or to change its society. They're expected to assimilate." He stressed that this principle is found throughout Scripture's treatment of foreigners living among God's people.

Johnson referenced 1 Peter 3:15, which calls Christians to "always be ready to give a defense," and Micah 6:8 on the balance of justice and mercy. The exchange highlighted growing tension between the Vatican's position on migration and conservative American Christians who view border enforcement as consistent with biblical teaching.

THE CRUSADER'S OPINION

Finally, a leader who opens his Bible and reads what it actually says instead of what the culture wants it to say.

The Bible is not a book of open borders. It is a book of nations, boundaries, law, and order. God established nations. He gave governments the authority to protect their people. That is not cruelty. That is stewardship.

Speaker Johnson did what every Christian leader should do: he answered with Scripture, not sentiment.

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