AS part of their sovereign nature, all states have the absolute power to deny any entry of visitors (noncitizens, foreign nationals, “aliens”) into their territories. After all, similar to how homeowner associations can restrict access of certain visitors to their subdivisions, the State, acting through its Executive branch, has the absolute power to decide who can enter and stay in the country. This power is exercised three ways—(1) issuance of visas; (2) border inspection; and (3) deportation—when visitors violate conditions of their stay.
As preliminary evaluators, consular officers, under the state or foreign affairs department, issue visas after assessing the applicant’s fitness to enter and stay in the country. For example, if a visa applicant intends to enter as a tourist, he must show proof that he can financially sustain and support his entry/stay for “pleasure or business.” For students, they must show proof of school acceptance, among others. For investors, they must present a substantial sum of inward remittance to the country. However, since having a visa does not guarantee entry, border inspectors have the right to deny entry (or exclude, in technical terms) visitors despite having a valid visa.
Last year, former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario were denied entry in Hong Kong, presumably for their respective positions against Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Chinese officials for alleged crimes against humanity in the West Philippine Sea. A month ago, the visa application of former national police chief Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa was reportedly denied by US immigration for his supposed involvement in the bloody drug war in the Philippines. Such action also appears to be an offshoot of the 2020 US budget law, which contained a special provision, upon the insistence of US Sens. Leahy and Durbin, to restrict entry of Philippine officials involved in the detention of Sen. Leila de Lima.
Under immigration law, any foreign national, regardless of visa status, can be excluded by border inspectors known as immigration officers in this country for various reasons. Under Philippine law, grounds for exclusion are found under Section 29 of the antiquated Philippine Immigration Act of 1940. Some of these grounds include those likely to be a public charge, or those with communicable disease or those who are opposed to organized government. By way of executive discretion, the President and the immigration commissioner are also empowered, under certain guidelines, to place certain individuals in the blacklist. US President Donald J. Trump did just that by way of particular section in the 2020 US budget, entitled “Prohibition on Entry,” which says the US secretary of state “shall apply subsection [c] to foreign government officials about whom the secretary has credible information have been involved in the wrongful imprisonment of…. Sen. Leila de Lima who was arrested in the Philippines in 2017.” In response to this Executive action, the Duterte administration practically blacklisted Leahy and Durbin, who are now banned from entering the Philippines.
During my stint as immigration commissioner, I remember that the Philippines is the seventh-most open country in the world, granting visa-free access to visitors from more than 160 countries. While here, these foreigners are treated fairly well as compared to how Filipino visitors are treated in other countries. While reciprocity in terms of entry/stay is desired, it can never be demanded. These visits are a matter of privilege, which can be revoked by the sovereign power subject to due process requirements. Since the inception of states and rulers, royal authorities can prevent entry or expel any unwanted visitor in their kingdom.
In contrast, when it comes to our Kingdom in Heaven, it’s an entirely different storyline—everyone is welcome to enter; with Jesus as their super special visa. It has no expiration date nor any restriction upon acceptance. At the Pearly Gates, visitors with their super visas will be judged, like any other border inspection, for their fitness to enter the Kingdom. In the Bible, Jesus tells us in Matthew 13:47-49 that, “the Kingdom of Heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous.” Not everyone who was invited to enter the Kingdom will be allowed entry, even with a Jesus visa. While we all are given the opportunity to accept the super special visa to be part of His Kingdom, only a few have embraced it. Some accept the gift of Jesus, but fail to comply with certain conditions. Others believe but fail to exert efforts to act on such belief. For instance, I have seen a few believers who are ruthlessly unkind to others, in words or in deed, despite the expectation that, in the spirit of love, they are to treat one another with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Believers are to welcome and receive one another, regardless of political affiliations, in unity as we have one heart, one mind and one voice to praise our God.
The issuance of any visa does not guarantee entry to anyone’s Kingdom. Admission is never a right, but a privilege.
For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.