(Immigration) Bill could prohibit churches from helping immigrants

[rainbow4321]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/122905dnteximmigbill.21e16349.html

Pastors in Texas and elsewhere are worried that a bill that just passed in the U.S. House of Representatives might make it illegal for churches to help some of the poor.

Some who help with faith-based charity work are telling Congress they'd be willing to break new laws set forth in the Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 to continue their efforts.

The bill bars anyone from helping someone stay in the United States. If that person is an illegal immigrant, immigration experts have warned the Lutheran church that even lending a wheelchair could be a violation.

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"My first thought was, 'well, if this were to become law, you know they might as well come and lock us up and bring the force of the legal system to bear on us, because we will continue to do this,'" Rev. Peterson said.

Full text of bill:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:h4437eh.txt.pdf