Now I will agree that the donkey Mary rode was a commie lib shyster aCLU lawyer wanting to get in on all the lawsuits.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph aren’t typically seen as modern immigrants because they moved within the Roman Empire (from Judea to Egypt, both Roman provinces), not between distinct countries.
Their flight was a temporary escape from King Herod’s infanticide order rather than permanent relocation for economic or political asylum, making them more like internal migrants or religious refugees fleeing immediate danger within the same imperial system, notes Biola University.
They followed Roman law by registering for the census, and their move to Egypt was a planned, self-funded sojourn until Herod died, unlike today’s complex, often indigent refugee situations, says GotQuestions.org.
Temporary & Planned: Their move was a short, planned escape to wait out a threat (King Herod), not a permanent new beginning, supported by gifts from the Magi, say GotQuestions.org and Universal Life Church Monastery.
No Law Broken: Their actions likely didn’t violate Roman laws, as they were fleeing persecution within Roman territory, notes Juicy Ecumenism and Biola University.
Why Some Call Them Refugees/Migrants:
Fleeing Persecution: They were displaced by a credible threat (Herod’s decree to kill male infants), fitting the humanitarian aspect of “refugee,” notes World Relief and America Magazine.
Matthew’s Gospel portrays the flight to Egypt as a new Exodus, and framing Jesus as a liberator, says U.S. Catholic.
Applying modern legal terms to ancient events is tricky, but their circumstances differed significantly from contemporary immigrants seeking new homes, say GotQuestions.org and World Relief.