Thread: Las Vegas Churches as Sanctuary For Illegal Immigrants

Las Vegas Churches as Sanctuary For Illegal Immigrants

Aug 22, 2007 08:43 PM PDT




Churches throughout the Las Vegas Valley are being asked to take a more proactive role in protecting undocumented immigrants.

The move by one group comes after a Mexican woman was deported after taking refuge in a Chicago church for a year.

Elvira Arellano claimed she had a right to be in the country. to be with her son who was born in the U.S. Arellano was arrested on Sunday in Los Angeles and returned to Mexico.

"The United Coalition for Immigrant Rights" wants Las Vegas to be the first sanctuary city in Nevada.

The group wants churches to be places where illegal immigrants can go for help without fear of being deported.

They also hope churches can be places where family members of different legal status can stay together.

http://www.lasvegasnow.com/global/story.asp?s=6969607

BOYCOTT LAS VEGAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PULL ALL FEDERAL FUNDING FROM SANCTUARY CITIES!!!

That would be perfect....tick Reid off....Love it...

Immigrant rights group launch sanctuary movement in Las Vegas

Aug 23, 2007 11:57 AM EDT

Illegal immigration is a hot topic in Las Vegas, and now one local group is working to create a safe haven. The Sanctuary City plan would protect illegal immigrants from deportation. News 3's Hetty Chang tells us how its been done elsewhere, and how the idea is facing some opposition.

Over the weekend, immigrant rights activist Elvira Arellano was deported; she had been fighting separation from her son, who is a US citizen. Her deportation has launched a sanctuary movement in Las Vegas.

The group The United Coalition for Immigrant Rights says so far, 1.6 million families have been separated this way. It blames "unreasonable immigration laws" and wants Las Vegas to become a place where families who are here illegally can stay.

The group says illegal immigrants should feel safe in places like a church, but some feel if these immigrants are here illegally, they shouldn't feel safe at all.

The sanctuary movement in Nevada comes just a week after the federal government announced it would step up enforcement against businesses who hire illegals. Those we spoke with feel the sanctuary movement contradicts federal law.

They also say making Vegas a sanctuary would only cause more illegals to flock to our city. Others feel it's only a small solution to a big problem, and still others feel the US needs to pick a stance and stick to it.

"I think it's kinda ironic how we as a country always make a big issue about people from other countries causing havoc stirring up trouble - terrorist thing all that type of stuff, but we can bring in people from other countries who can just do work because it makes money for us," said UNLV student Rapheal Hicks.

We tried to reach Mayor Oscar Goodman for reaction, but he was not available. The sanctuary designation has no legal power, meaning the city cannot stop the feds from making arrests. Despite that, supporters of the sanctuary movement believe illegals can find refuge in places like churches.

http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=6973095&nav=15MV