http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/GabeSemenza/8276 Between 1982 and 1992, the Sanctuary Movement flourished. Now, the movement is again gaining steam. The Sanctuary Movement is a religious and political movement in which churches shelter Central American refugees from Immigration and Naturalization Service. For our fifth Fatal Funnel installment, we are digging deep into this movement -- into churches in South Texas and along the border -- that partake. We also want to talk to church leaders who preside over congregations and others who stand firmly against the movement. We are leaving for the border within a few weeks. What are your thoughts? Do you know about South Texas churches that protect illegal immigrants? Do you have a story or opinion to share? As always, you can reach me at 361-580-6519 or gsemenza@vicad.com or by posting in here. Thanks for your help, Gabe Semenza/Advocate public service editor   Between 1982 and 1992, the Sanctuary Movement flourished. Now, the movement is again gaining steam. The Sanctuary Movement is a religious and political movement in which churches shelter Central American refugees from Immigration and Naturalization Service. For our fifth Fatal Funnel installment, we are digging deep into this movement -- into churches in South Texas and along the border -- that partake. We also want to talk to church leaders who preside over congregations and others who stand firmly against the movement. We are leaving for the border within a few weeks. What are your thoughts? Do you know about South Texas churches that protect illegal immigrants? Do you have a story or opinion to share? As always, you can reach me at 361-580-6519 or gsemenza@vicad.com or by posting in here. Thanks for your help, Gabe Semenza/Advocate public service editor   en-us This isn't  an underground railroad scenario, freeing slaves brought into this country against their will. Churches or organizations who harbor or assist persons who they know to have entered the country illegally, are quite simply, breaking the law. Just as the big factories and small landscaping companies that hire them knowing they are here illegally, they should observe the laws on the books or risk being prosecuted. If everyone that employs and enables illegals were not doing so, we might not be talking about an eyesore of a "tortilla curtain" being erected from Brownsville to San Diego. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/GabeSemenza/8276/#c_61047 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/GabeSemenza/8276/#c_61047 This isn't  an underground railroad scenario, freeing slaves brought into this country against their will. Churches or organizations who harbor or assist persons who they know to have entered the country illegally, are quite simply, breaking the law. Just as the big factories and small landscaping companies that hire them knowing they are here illegally, they should observe the laws on the books or risk being prosecuted. If everyone that employs and enables illegals were not doing so, we might not be talking about an eyesore of a "tortilla curtain" being erected from Brownsville to San Diego. Pilot: Would you be willing to share your thoughts on illegal immigration for our fourth installment, which publishes next month? Thanks, Gabe http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/GabeSemenza/8276/#c_61049 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/GabeSemenza/8276/#c_61049 Pilot: Would you be willing to share your thoughts on illegal immigration for our fourth installment, which publishes next month? Thanks, Gabe John - please don't mistake my stating of the laws on the books for a callous cold heart toward would be immigrants. The illegal flow MUST be stemmed. Period. And you are correct. Be it documented guest workers or a relaxed immigration policy, there are jobs here that will not be filled, except by those immigrants. But the laws are there, and the answer is to enforce them, and then change them, to a more fair immigration policy, then enforce THOSE laws. The illegals, are contributing nothing to our system, save for fattening up the rich who hire them and don't pay taxes on them whether they withhold or not. Legal status would force the immigrants to pay into our system as they take from it, and it would force the employers to be accountable as well. I am well aware how this country was first taken from the natives who lived in the north, who were subjected to genocide. I think the Republic of Texas had a valid beef with Mexico and in declaring independence. And yes I have Mexican friends who are thriving with a river dividing them. I dare say a Texas Republic, had it been allowed to flourish and not have accepted statehood, would have been a hell of a lot better neighbor with Mexico in time, than the imperialist bunch that annexed us has been. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/GabeSemenza/8276/#c_61095 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/GabeSemenza/8276/#c_61095 John - please don't mistake my stating of the laws on the books for a callous cold heart toward would be immigrants. The illegal flow MUST be stemmed. Period. And you are correct. Be it documented guest workers or a relaxed immigration policy, there are jobs here that will not be filled, except by those immigrants. But the laws are there, and the answer is to enforce them, and then change them, to a more fair immigration policy, then enforce THOSE laws. The illegals, are contributing nothing to our system, save for fattening up the rich who hire them and don't pay taxes on them whether they withhold or not. Legal status would force the immigrants to pay into our system as they take from it, and it would force the employers to be accountable as well. I am well aware how this country was first taken from the natives who lived in the north, who were subjected to genocide. I think the Republic of Texas had a valid beef with Mexico and in declaring independence. And yes I have Mexican friends who are thriving with a river dividing them. I dare say a Texas Republic, had it been allowed to flourish and not have accepted statehood, would have been a hell of a lot better neighbor with Mexico in time, than the imperialist bunch that annexed us has been. Gabe...You are starting with a flawed premis.  The people being offered sanctuary are NOT refugees.  They are making no claims of threats to their welfare or life, or political or religious persecution.  If sent back, they don't claim to be in danger from armed bands of government thugs.  No, they simply are here, flaunting our laws and using American good will to those less fortunate, to their economic benefit.  There are legal procedures in place these people could use -- like millions of others have done -- but they don't think they should follow the law.  They think the law shouldn't apply to them.  They seek medical care in U.S. hosptial emergency rooms, they seek public education for their children, and when ICE comes around, they seek sanctuary from well meaning fools who actually provide it.  Pilot is correct in stating that an equal part of the problem is employers who hire them.  There are laws in place that prohibit that, but are seldom enforced.  If the companies and individuals who hire those here illegally were made to pay large fines -- fines big enough to actually hurt -- the problem would be much smaller than it is now.  The securing of the border is the responsibility of the United States.  Mexico has no responsibility to keep its citizens at home any more than our government should keep Americans from traveling to other countries.  We don't care if you leave; we just want to keep out people who should not be here. http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/GabeSemenza/8276/#c_61138 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/GabeSemenza/8276/#c_61138 Gabe...You are starting with a flawed premis.  The people being offered sanctuary are NOT refugees.  They are making no claims of threats to their welfare or life, or political or religious persecution.  If sent back, they don't claim to be in danger from armed bands of government thugs.  No, they simply are here, flaunting our laws and using American good will to those less fortunate, to their economic benefit.  There are legal procedures in place these people could use -- like millions of others have done -- but they don't think they should follow the law.  They think the law shouldn't apply to them.  They seek medical care in U.S. hosptial emergency rooms, they seek public education for their children, and when ICE comes around, they seek sanctuary from well meaning fools who actually provide it.  Pilot is correct in stating that an equal part of the problem is employers who hire them.  There are laws in place that prohibit that, but are seldom enforced.  If the companies and individuals who hire those here illegally were made to pay large fines -- fines big enough to actually hurt -- the problem would be much smaller than it is now.  The securing of the border is the responsibility of the United States.  Mexico has no responsibility to keep its citizens at home any more than our government should keep Americans from traveling to other countries.  We don't care if you leave; we just want to keep out people who should not be here. thewaywardwind: You're partly correct. I should have explained it better. The Sanctuary Movement began in the 1980s when churches gave sanctuary to Central American refugees. That's now always the case now. Here's a more encompassing explanation of the movement. Thanks, Gabe http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/GabeSemenza/8276/#c_61146 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/GabeSemenza/8276/#c_61146 thewaywardwind: You're partly correct. I should have explained it better. The Sanctuary Movement began in the 1980s when churches gave sanctuary to Central American refugees. That's now always the case now. Here's a more encompassing explanation of the movement. Thanks, Gabe Gabe, I have only heard rumors, so I will say as rumors and no more.  Supposedly there are flyers that are passed out or left around in border towns for easy access that identifies the sanctuary churches along the routes across Texas.  I do know of members of the church that are aware of such churches, but they will not discuss locations further because they know of my desire to stop illegal flow.  The Archdiosies of Galveston also has groups that work to support the illegal aliens and promote Houston as a sanctuary city. The church has a lot of money and in Houston some power. I don't know about other places. Just like with the underground railroad of many years ago, there are so many people that support the flow and say nothing or protect them.  As with the store where the clerk worked where all the people died needlessly.  He had known for years about the illegal traffic, the drivers stopped at his store.  He never ever said a thing. Figure out the gasoline mileage of the average cars, vans, and trucks.  Find those main gasoline stops.  Maybe there are flyers or posters. Maybe they are in code, who knows. I am ashamed of a Church that I am a member of that feels it is above the laws of the United States and encourages all of its members to do the same -- violate US laws.  What makes this issue the thing that allows us to step out and say we are better than all of our neighbors, town members, and other US citizens.  We are going to destroy our infrastructure and ignore our laws because our priest told us to do so?  I don't get it. I am having many arguments with a God that is not talking much now days.  Our country will be ripe for revolts and religious wars in the future and I pray it does not happen.  We need to close the borders and manage the flux.   http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/GabeSemenza/8276/#c_61494 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/GabeSemenza/8276/#c_61494 Gabe, I have only heard rumors, so I will say as rumors and no more.  Supposedly there are flyers that are passed out or left around in border towns for easy access that identifies the sanctuary churches along the routes across Texas.  I do know of members of the church that are aware of such churches, but they will not discuss locations further because they know of my desire to stop illegal flow.  The Archdiosies of Galveston also has groups that work to support the illegal aliens and promote Houston as a sanctuary city. The church has a lot of money and in Houston some power. I don't know about other places. Just like with the underground railroad of many years ago, there are so many people that support the flow and say nothing or protect them.  As with the store where the clerk worked where all the people died needlessly.  He had known for years about the illegal traffic, the drivers stopped at his store.  He never ever said a thing. Figure out the gasoline mileage of the average cars, vans, and trucks.  Find those main gasoline stops.  Maybe there are flyers or posters. Maybe they are in code, who knows. I am ashamed of a Church that I am a member of that feels it is above the laws of the United States and encourages all of its members to do the same -- violate US laws.  What makes this issue the thing that allows us to step out and say we are better than all of our neighbors, town members, and other US citizens.  We are going to destroy our infrastructure and ignore our laws because our priest told us to do so?  I don't get it. I am having many arguments with a God that is not talking much now days.  Our country will be ripe for revolts and religious wars in the future and I pray it does not happen.  We need to close the borders and manage the flux.