The latter is a columnist for the San Antonio Express-News, and he offers "If churches targeted in immigrant fight, a higher law will prevail", in which he discusses the thoughts of one Rev. Michael DeGerolami:

...Congress has done a lot of stupid things, but it is criminal to criminalize decency and compassion.

Yet that is what officials appear to be doing with a bill that would make it a felony to aid undocumented immigrants - legislation that, immigrant advocates fear, could affect soup kitchens and day shelters.

...The sponsors contend the bill targets "alien smuggling rings," but the wording is vague, and critics fear it will lump social service workers into the same category as coyotes...

Now, over to the United States attorney for the district of New Mexico:

...Contrary to recent press reports, these important provisions target alien smugglers, not individuals who happen to provide humanitarian assistance to aliens. Like current law, the provisions of the bill only apply to those who act knowingly or recklessly, and do not require anyone to check a person's immigration status before helping them. As prosecutors, our focus is on criminals who profit from the deadly smuggling trade, not those who simply provide basic necessities to immigrants and do not engage in profit-making criminal endeavors or thwarting law-enforcement efforts. Members of human smuggling networks -- from the "coyotes" or guides to document forgers to financiers -- must be put on notice that they will be caught, prosecuted and serve hard time...

They can't both be right, so who should you believe? I'm going to believe the attorney, and I'm going to suspect that either Rev. Michael DeGerolami or Robert Seltzer or both are mistaken or lying. See also "Will HR 4437 cause humanitarian groups to be prosecuted for giving emergency aid to illegal aliens?" and "Churchmen, coyotes, and HR 4437".

Back to the reverend's thoughts:

"In my studies of the Scriptures, it's very clear that migration is the story of the Old Testament... Abraham was a wanderer, looking for a better place, a better life... I'd rather not comment on [Sensenbrenner and King]. But I think there is a lot of posturing going on. They forget they are the children and grandchildren of immigrants."

I'm sure everyone else except for Robert Seltzer has noted that the reverend's comments are illogical. We can't allow every wanderer to come here. And, I'm pretty sure the Bible says something about not just allowing people to invade and settle your land. And, since everyone on Earth is a descendant of immigrants, does that mean I can just settle in any country I want?

Back to Seltzer:

And as the tide swells, a corresponding tide swells on this side of the border - the number of people who resent the immigrants.

Ah, the inevitable attempt to smear those who support our laws and oppose things like massively subsidized labor, political corruption, and foreign countries meddling in our internal politics.

It is one thing to legislate against compassion; it is another to enforce that legislation.

Does anyone seriously think the smuggling provisions are going to be applied to those who are not willful smugglers? Obviously, this article is just a propaganda piece. Unfortunately, some soft-minded members of his readership will be taken in.

Write him at rseltzer@express-news.net and contact his paper here.