Perp walk: churches to shelter illegal aliens facing deportation

Posted Wed, Mar 14, 2007 at 10:12 am
From this:
Churches in major cities across the country are preparing to grant "sanctuary" to illegal immigrants facing deportation in an effort to unite evangelicals behind comprehensive immigration reform, according to a pastor organizing the effort.

Rev. Alexia Salvatierra [an ordained Lutheran minister], executive director of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), said Monday that Christians will fight to prevent families from being divided when illegal immigrant parents are deported, leaving behind children who are legal residents.

"There are congregations all across this country that see this as a moral issue," Salvatierra said during a discussion on immigration at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C.
She says it will start in Los Angeles. The article also quotes Rev. Jim Wallis who, while apparently not involved with CLUE, does promote "comprehensive immigration reform".

As has been pointed out many times, the easy way to deal with situations like this is to go to public events where "religious" leaders are speaking and completely eviscerate what little argument they come up with. The only reason they're able to support illegal immigration is because they shelter themselves from tough questioning.

For an even easier option, Jim Wallis accepts comments here: beliefnet.com/blogs/godspolitics
Tags: 
center for american progress
comprehensive immigration reform
alexia salvatierra
clergy and laity united for economic justice
new sanctuary movement

Comments

jackbenimble (not verified)

Wed, 03/14/2007 - 19:45

I really don't mind if illegal immigrants decide to voluntarily imprison themselves and if churches decide to voluntarily turn themselves into prisons and spend the resources of their legal parishoners supporting illegals who dare not leave the church to support themselves. That illegal lowlife in Chicago has about wasted a year of her life. She is still in America but her quality of life sucks which is how life should be for scofflaws. Except for the few odd anchor babies that will be born in Church, this situtation will serve most of my purposes. The illegals will not be consuming tax dollars; they will not be taking American jobs or depressing American wages; they will not be on the streets enjoying American freedom or committing crimes; they won't be sending remittances home; they won't be enriching unscrupulous employers at the expense of the law abiding employers .... and most importantly they won't be calling home to their friends and family telling them how great things are here. I'd rather see them deported but ...

Juan Valdez (not verified)

Wed, 03/14/2007 - 21:01

Churches sheltering illegals? You mean there are really some Christians left? Not just rightwing haters who show up at buildings that call themselves churches?

Claude Newton (not verified)

Thu, 03/15/2007 - 01:47

If the churches want to meddle in the affairs of the US. goverment, then they should have their tax exempt status repelled.

petty bourgeois (not verified)

Thu, 03/15/2007 - 04:03

You obviously have an axe to grind, Juan, so let me set you straight: Being christian implies having a deference to the law and the rights of others to live free from invasion, occupation and colonization. If you agree that 20 million people have a "right" to invade, occupy and colonize, then give me your address so I can come into your home without an invitation. If not, you are a hypocrite, like most mexicans.