Press Releases :: April 11, 2007

Carlos Espinosa 202-225-7882; T.Q. Houlton 202-225-7882


Tancredo to Block Religious Groups from Harboring Illegal Aliens
Congressman will reintroduce legislation to close Sen. Bennett’s immigration loophole


(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Representative Tom Tancredo (R-CO) today criticized a loophole in U.S. immigration law that was quietly created by U.S. Senator Robert Bennett (R-UT) in 2005. The “Bennett Loophole” created a broad exemption that allows religious organizations to knowingly transport, aid, abet and harbor illegal aliens.

“Allowing this law to remain on the books encourages terrorist networks disguised as religious groups to hide behind this ill-advised provision of law,” Tancredo said. “Does it really make sense to allow Imam’s and Mosques in this country a blank check to transport or harbor foreigners in this country illegally?”

Tancredo, who was extremely critical of the provision in 2005, renewed his criticism of the “Bennett Loophole” amid news reports that a number of churches in Los Angeles, Chicago and elsewhere are intentionally acting as sanctuaries for illegal aliens. The high profile case in Chicago of illegal alien Elvira Arellano and her son, Saul, is an example of the abuses the “Bennett Loophole” allows.

In fact the “Bennett Loophole” has spurred Cardinal Roger Mahony of the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles to begin a sanctuary movement within religious organizations. First by instructing his priests and lay employees last year to ignore the U.S. House’s immigration bill (HR 4437) if passed into law, and then inspiring an L.A. church to begin construction of an on-site facility designed to harbor illegal aliens facing deportation for violating federal immigration laws.

After Tancredo raised objections to the provision in 2005, the House passed legislation that would have closed the loophole. The legislation died, however, after the Senate failed to consider it. Sen. Bennett’s law was passed as part of the Agriculture Appropriations bill in 2005. The Senator claims he authored the far-reaching provision to assist the Mormon Church in utilizing illegal alien missionaries and volunteers. Representative Tancredo plans to reintroduce the legislation next week when Congress is back in session.

Tancredo concluded, “This law has set a dangerous precedent by giving terrorists a tool to attack the United States. No organization – religious or not – can be permitted to disregard our immigration laws and endanger public safety.”

# # # #
http://tancredo.house.gov/press/PRArtic ... ewsID=1269