Christian Nationalist Pastor Sparks Controversy with Comments on Immigration and Border Security
Pastor Joel Webbon, the founder and president of Right Response Ministries in Texas, caused a stir during a podcast episode on November 13 by suggesting that shooting and killing migrants could be a “more merciful option” for addressing illegal immigration.
In the almost two-hour episode of the Right Response Ministries podcast, Webbon, who also serves as the senior pastor at Covenant Bible Church in Georgetown, Texas, discussed his views on immigration policy and border security.
Arguing from a perspective he described as “Biblical Justice,” Webbon claimed that a deterrent policy should involve extreme measures to prevent people from attempting to enter the United States. Specifically, he stated that any migrants who approach the border wall after a warning should be “shot and killed.”
Webbon’s remarks were controversial, with his justification being that such a harsh approach would prevent further harm by discouraging others from attempting to cross. “What will end up happening is you’ll have a handful of people that will get killed and then thousands of people that don’t experience the misery of coming and then having to be removed,” he said. “That is the way Biblical Justice is done, one is punished and the rest stand in fear, that’s the Bible’s model.”
The comments were made in the context of a broader discussion on immigration policy, where Webbon suggested that for the next 20 to 25 years, the United States should have “virtually zero immigration,” including legal immigration.
Webbon’s stance on immigration is extreme even within the broader context of the national debate. Immigration and border security were key issues in the 2024 election, where former President Donald Trump won a second term after pledging tougher measures on immigration, including the construction of a border wall and mass deportations.
While Trump’s policies focused on stricter enforcement, including his 2017 border wall initiative, Webbon’s comments advocating for lethal force go far beyond anything proposed by the former president or other Republican leaders.
Despite Webbon’s alignment with some of Trump’s views, particularly his support for border security measures, Webbon’s suggestion that lethal force should be used against migrants has drawn widespread criticism and is not part of any official policy proposal from the Trump campaign or other Republican lawmakers.
Webbon, who has been known for making controversial statements in the past, has previously argued that women should not have the right to vote and criticized parents in liberal states like California for failing to protect their children. His rhetoric has sparked concern among some, who fear it could incite violence or extremism.
Webbon shared a video segment of his comments on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where he has over 25,500 followers. His remarks have drawn widespread backlash, but as of now, there has been no official response from the Trump campaign or from any major Republican leaders on his extreme views.
Newsweek reached out to Trump’s press team for comment on Friday but has not received a response.