Actually, in the strict sense, Mary and Joseph were tourists (or maybe “migrant workers”). Immigrants plan to stay “in country”-—Mary and Joseph did not.
The US State Department issues a statement :
Mary and Joseph have a lengthy family history connected with Zionism (going back to David) and in accord with their fanatical expectations they traveled to Bethlehem, where they expected a great miracle pertaining to the mission of Israel.
Clearly they should never have been allowed to cross the Green Line in a demonstration of their extremist views; and their right to reside, even temporarily, in the Occupied Territories runs contrary to every UN declaration on the subject, as well as official US State Dept. policy.
They are considered troublemakers and will not be allowed entry into the US, even for speaking engagements at churches (which are probably too busy with their homophobia to notice anyway.)
And, Seasons Greetings, for those of you who might be commemorating something or other at this time of year.
/Condi Rice