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Religious institutions should never be allowed to be safe havens for immigrants. I know that many feel empathy for the plight of illegal immigrants because of the varied and multiplied hardships they face in coming to America but we should not confuse difficult circumstances for what is fair and lawful in the United States.

If you allow the sanctuaries of our country to become political asylum for those who have broken the law you are creating a conundrum making the church the fulcrum which balances the lawbreaker and the lawmaker.

It is easy however to say that the responsibility of being a safe haven rests upon the churches and synagogues of our country but this is as invalid an argument as saying that public school officials should turn and look the other way if they notice a child coming to school with obvious symptoms of abuse.

In the same way our public school officials have an obligation to report incidences of abuse and/or neglect the leaders of local religious institutions have an obligation to report instances of illegal behavior. This applies to every instance in which illegal activity is occurring.

Furthermore, the activation of religious institutions as safe havens will only lead to the propagation of soft line activism. Do we really want our churches to be non-law abiding? Is there not a more pheasible solution to assisting immigrants? Couldn't churches help by referring and reporting to proper state and local government officials on the status of the immigrant?

This question of course goes deeper than meeting spiritual needs and should not be confused with providing a cup of water, a warm meal, a genuine prayer, and a place of spiritual refuge and encouragement for those who are hurting. It is widely held and accepted that religious institutions should continue with this type of care and benevolence for hurting humanity.
However, this is a question of legality and of upholding what is right in state and local government in compliance with federal law. It should be held and understood that religious institutions need to comply with federal and state laws regarding immigrants and their status. Failure to do so, sends a message that is unsavory and unsatisfactory in regards to being a safe haven for those who worship.

The worst case scenario in the United States is the housing, aiding, and abetting of those determined to do America harm. Namely terrorists and those associated with radical religious movements. This is a paramount issue to the safety of the country and to the culpability of religious institutions who participate wrongly in assistance of such criminal activity.

Learn more about this author, Sam Smith.
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