Churches Providing Sanctuary To Immigrants

Effort Modeled On 1980s Movement That Harbored Central American Refugees Fleeing Home Countries

(AP)  An effort being billed as a new sanctuary movement for immigrants is loosely based on a 1980s movement in which churches harbored Central American refugees fleeing wars in their home countries.

As religious leaders from different faiths across the nation announced the initiative Wednesday, the Rev. Donna Schaper of Judson Memorial Church defined it as "providing spiritual, moral, sometimes material and sometimes legal assistance to people who are either unjustly detained or deported."

But religious leaders in the five big U.S. cities initially involved in the effort said their support for immigrants might also include physical sanctuary.

On Wednesday, a Catholic church in Los Angeles and a Lutheran church in North Hollywood each sheltered one person, and churches in more than 50 cities nationwide plan to do so in coming months as part of the "New Sanctuary Movement."

"We want to put a human face to very complex immigration laws and awaken the consciousness of the human spirit," said Father Richard Estrada of Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Los Angeles, where more than 30 priests, pastors, imams and rabbis blessed two illegal immigrants during a raucous ceremony attended by 300 people.

A Mexican man will be sheltered at the church, and another from Guatemala will be housed at San Pablo's Lutheran Church in North Hollywood.

The Guatemalan, a gardener who only gave his first name as Juan, said he worried about what might happen to his young daughters if he was deported. Both girls are U.S. citizens because they were born in the United States.

"I want to ask the politicians to see the suffering of the immigrant families," he said.

The initiation is also beginning in San Diego, Chicago and Seattle. It comes as immigration reform legislation has been stalled since last summer, and tens of thousands of illegal immigrants have been detained and deported in stepped-up immigration raids in recent months.

Organizers don't believe immigration agents will make arrests inside the churches.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has not tried to arrest Elvira Arellano, an illegal immigrant who has taken shelter at a Methodist church in Chicago since August. Her son is a U.S. citizen and he has lobbied in the Mexican legislature on behalf of families that would be split if parents are deported.

ICE spokeswoman Virginia Kice declined to say whether agents would attempt to arrest others who take sanctuary in churches, although she noted agents had the authority to arrest anyone violating immigration law.

Rabbi Jonathan Singer of Temple Beth Am in Seattle said his congregation is just recognizing the need to advocate for the welfare of illegal immigrants.

"Many of our members have been in denial that they are part of the problem," Singer said, pointing out that immigrants often care for Americans' elderly parents, work in the factories that create the goods they buy and keep restaurants and hotels going.

In New York, churches will be aiding a Haitian man and a Chinese couple who are facing deportation and have children who are U.S. citizens, said Father Juan Carlos Ruiz.

"For us, sanctuary is an act of radical hospitality, the welcoming of the stranger who is like ourselves, the stranger in our midst, our neighbors, our friends," said Rabbi Michael Feinberg of the Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition.

Two families facing possible deportation attended the news conference at the Roman Catholic Church of St. Paul the Apostle.

A Chinese-born restaurant worker who identified himself only as Joe said that if he and his wife, Mei, are deported, their two young children could be place in foster care.

"We do not want our family to be apart," he said.

Anti-illegal-immigration groups called the sanctuary effort misguided.

The faith groups "don't seem to realize that they are being charitable with someone else's resources, and that's not charity," said Ira Mehlman of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which favors limits on immigration.

[lilathe]

Joseph and Mary obeyed the laws of their land. Even though Mary was heavy with child and about to birth our Lord and Savior, they traveled to be counted as the law required.
Our One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church should follow the example set by the Holy Family.
The bible also says that we must help the poor, the sick, the widowed, the orphaned. There are billions of people around the world that are "more deserving" if hunger and poverty are used as the judge of "deserving" of compassion. We can help the people in their own country, not just the ones that are brought to our attention because of their illegal acts. Are the law-abiding citizens of India less deserving of our compassion just because they follow the Holy Families example and try to legally immigrate?

[randalds]

If these sanctuaries also want to give illegal immigrants shelter, fine: Let them be charged with aiding and abetting illegal immigration, along with any other criminal charges that might apply.
Posted by Frankinaz at 10:14 PM : May 10, 2007

The Supreme Court has already ruled that giving sanctuary is a long recognized religious right and is protect under the Constitution as a religious practice and therefore can not be stopped or punished.

[randalds]

If these sanctuaries also want to give illegal immigrants shelter, fine: Let them be charged with aiding and abetting illegal immigration, along with any other criminal charges that might apply.
Posted by Frankinaz at 10:14 PM : May 10, 2007

The Supreme Court Has already ruled that sanctuary is protected as a recognized religious practice that can not be punished as that would interfere with the church's right to practice it's religion. An excellent ruling in my opinion.

[randalds]

If these sanctuaries also want to give illegal immigrants shelter, fine: Let them be charged with aiding and abetting illegal immigration, along with any other criminal charges that might apply.
Posted by Frankinaz at 10:14 PM : May 10, 2007

The Supreme Court Has already ruled that sanctuary is protected as a recognized religious practice that can not be punished as that would interfere with the church's right to practice it's religion. An excellent ruling in my opinion.

[ja32l]

This is not a case of people being persecuted for doing nothing wrong. These people are intentionally breaking the law. Not only do they break the law, but they defy our country to enforce the laws by stating that they will just keep coming back if deported. They make no effort to speak English, clog our school systems, bankrupt our hospitals and seek "justica." The only justice for these illegal immigrants is deportation. They are here illegally, as criminals, and deserve to be treated as criminals. If they want to enter the U.S., have them do it the longer "legal" way. There is nothing racist about anti-illegal immigrants. I am sick of people saying they are not illegal, but people without documents. Many are ignorant, arrogant and do not deserve to be in this country. The churches are now standing behind lawbreakers and yet they expect the law abiding citizens to keep contributing to the church coffers. Stand up citizens and stop your donations to the churches that are harboring these criminals. They have tax-exempt status and if they are going to become involved in this type of action, their tax-exempt status should assuredly be revoked. I am a Christian, but do not abide with law-breakers who flaunt their illegal status in our faces and tell us they are being persecuted. Hogwash!

[ja32l]

This is not a case of people being persecuted for doing nothing wrong. These people are intentionally breaking the law. Not only do they break the law, but they defy our country to enforce the laws by stating that they will just keep coming back if deported. They make no effort to speak English, clog our school systems, bankrupt our hospitals and seek "justica." The only justice for these illegal immigrants is deportation. They are here illegally, as criminals, and deserve to be treated as criminals. If they want to enter the U.S., have them do it the longer "legal" way. There is nothing racist about anti-illegal immigrants. I am sick of people saying they are not illegal, but people without documents. Many are ignorant, arrogant and do not deserve to be in this country. The churches are now standing behind lawbreakers and yet they expect the law abiding citizens to keep contributing to the church coffers. Stand up citizens and stop your donations to the churches that are harboring these criminals. They have tax-exempt status and if they are going to become involved in this type of action, their tax-exempt status should assuredly be revoked. I am a Christian, but do not abide with law-breakers who flaunt their illegal status in our faces and tell us they are being persecuted. Hogwash!

[vancouverboo]

The fruit of the poison tree is also poison.

Keep the kids with their parents - in Mexico.

Watch out for the pope. That old fox wants the US in his vestament pocket, too.

[vancouverboo]

The fruit of the poison tree is also poison.

Keep the kids with their parents - in Mexico.

[frankinaz]

Illegal immigrants are lawbreakers: They have trespassed into this country, and then to obtain jobs and stay here, they and their employers outright LIE to the Federal government and other agencies, on W-9, and various other forms. Then they use all types of excuses, such as having children, family, and now churches and religion, in this country to avoid punishment, deportation, and consequences, for their actions. This is WRONG:
Religions and churches do not condone their members being liars and lawbreakers, and other illegal immigrant "sanctuaries" also have to obey the law as well; these places are not above it.
Its also wrong that a small segment of the population (Illegal immigrants and the businesses that hire these people) break the laws of this country and be rewarded for their illegal activities. These two parties should be punished for their illegal actions, and not be allowed to profit from them. If these sanctuaries also want to give illegal immigrants shelter, fine: Let them be charged with aiding and abetting illegal immigration, along with any other criminal charges that might apply.

[wama2]

exactly what should be done!! I'm proud to be a christian!!!!

[tvgenius]

Several Catholic and other churches in SW Arizona have been harboring illegals for years, despite repeated warnings from the Border Patrol and ICE.

[randalds]

Change the immigration law so they are the same across the board since it's breathtakingly easy for some to immigrate here, but it's almost impossible for a Mexican to to the same. The laws are not fair to those from South of the border, but are fantastic (by comparison) for Europeans. That way we'll do away with this BS of a lie that "Oh the only problem I have is that they're (Horrors!) here illegally!!". Then provide a real path to citizenship for those here that makes them learn conversational English, pass a criminal background check (that does NOT include that they have violated the ridiculous draconian immigration laws to get here) and have them swear an oath of allegiance to America. Finally a real comprehensive Guest Worker program so migrants who just want to come here to work and then go home can do so easily and without being exploited.

[randalds]

The solution is so easy. A comprehensive Guest Worker program, reforming immigration laws so they are all the same no matter what country you're immigrating from and a real path to citizenship for those already here. We need Migrants to do the work Americans won't do and anyone who says Americans will do those jobs is full of it and won't do them themselves. The idea that the only problem is that "they're illegal!" is disingenuous as it's almost impossible for a person to legally immigrate here from South of the border, while a Cuban only has to reach dry land to be legal, so the laws need to be changed. Lastly a real path to citizenship for those here means they learn conversational level English, pass a criminal background check (that doesn't count coming here against the current draconian immigration laws) and then swear an oath.

[phoenix1218]

The kids don't need to be in foster care - they can all go home together. Most countries, ones without a stupid birth law that is an obsolete remnant of slavery, you are a citizen of the country your parents are a citizen of - no matter where you were born. They can go home, as a family. Posted by SusanHelit

I think that is the way it should be...
the kids born of illegal aliens should be considered citizens of the country where their parents are from, NOT as citizens of the United States. I also think that if parents are deported that the kids should be too. Why have the kids in our system when they can be with their parents in another country?

[randalds]

Someone needs to inform the church that this is NOT the middle ages. Any church that aids people in the commission of a crime (being in this country illegally) should be prosecuted like any other criminal. And their tax exempt status needs to be revoked.

Posted by Infidel_US at 04:21 PM : May 10, 2007

The Supreme Court has already ruled that sanctuary is protected under the Bill of Rights and there's not a snowballs chance in hell they'll ever overturn it. Besides it's one of the ones they got right.

[infidel_us]

Someone needs to inform the church that this is NOT the middle ages. Any church that aids people in the commission of a crime (being in this country illegally) should be prosecuted like any other criminal. And their tax exempt status needs to be revoked.

This goes for "sanctuary cities", as well. No federal funds until you enforce the law.

[phoenix1218]

The kids don't need to be in foster care - they can all go home together. Most countries, ones without a stupid birth law that is an obsolete remnant of slavery, you are a citizen of the country your parents are a citizen of - no matter where you were born. They can go home, as a family. Posted by SusanHelit

I think that is the way it should be...
the kids born of illegal aliens should be considered citizens of the country where their parents are from, NOT as citizens of the United States. I also think that if parents are deported that the kids should be too. Why have the kids in our system when they can be with their parents in another country?

[randalds]

So much for separation of church and state.

Just like the demonstrations a couple weeks ago, this is the perfect time for the law to take action and round these people up. The illegals are using their kids as pawns plain and simple.
Posted by olebd at 03:27 PM : May 10, 2007

This is not strictly a church and state separation issue, at least not in the way you refer to it. It's an age old tradition in the church to protect anyone who needs protection. Anyone who feels they're being persecuted by the government (any government, anywhere) has the right to seek sanctuary in church and the Supreme Court has ruled that it's legal for them to do so BECAUSE of religious protections in the Bill of Rights, not in spite of the separation.

[susanhelit]

The kids don't need to be in foster care - they can all go home together. Most countries, ones without a stupid birth law that is an obsolete remnant of slavery, you are a citizen of the country your parents are a citizen of - no matter where you were born. They can go home, as a family.

[olebd]

So much for separation of church and state.

Just like the demonstrations a couple weeks ago, this is the perfect time for the law to take action and round these people up. The illegals are using their kids as pawns plain and simple.