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| Church to be billed for immigrant rally |
| 2007-09-19 |
| Sweet... SIMI VALLEY, Calif. - A church that is sheltering an illegal immigrant from Mexico and her U.S.-born infant son will be billed nearly $40,000 for the city police presence during a weekend protest, officials said. Mayor Paul Miller, who called United Church of Christ congregants irresponsible for "harboring an illegal immigrant," told the City Council Monday that he was ready to issue the $39,306 invoice right away. Here's an idea Mr. Mayor. Have the Feds come down and arrest her. The church's decision to shelter the woman provoked the Sunday protest, which required a police presence, officials said. "This City Council has the obligation to protect all citizens in the community against any potential violence as a result of these ill-conceived actions," Miller said. A message left early Wednesday with the United Church of Christ was not immediately returned. They're probably in shock. This...isn't the way it supposed to be. We're a...Sanctuary! This is...mean spirited! An anti-illegal immigration group organized the protest and said it hoped to make a citizen's arrest of the woman, who has identified herself only as Liliana. The rally drew over a hundred activists on both sides of the illegal immigration debate. Between four and 15 officers were present during the three-hour rally, with two sheriff's tactical response teams on standby, police Chief Mike Lewis said. The woman has been living in the church's former parsonage as part of the New Sanctuary Movement, which arranges church accommodations for illegal immigrants in the U.S. So that makes it, what, a friggin embassy? Have ICE walk in there and walk her out in cuffs. City officials said they previously advised United Church of Christ Rev. June Goudey against taking in Liliana, who had earlier been sheltered at a church in Long Beach."This city is not going to be known as sanctuary city," Miller said. C'mon now ,Mr. Mayor. Reverend June knows what's best. For you and everyone else... |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #2 Right you are, Grunter. Parsonages don't count. Arrest her and anyone who tries to stop the officers. |
| Posted by: DanNY 2007-09-19 14:15 |
| #1 I was taught that the sanctuary was between the communion rail and the altar. |
| Posted by: Grunter 2007-09-19 13:05 |