Conservative pastors oppose sanctuary cities legisation
By Tim Eaton | Monday, June 20, 2011, 07:43 PM

Members of a House committee heard more testimony Monday night about Senate Bill 9 and House Bill 9, two immigration-related pieces of legislation.

The members have heard much of the testimony on both sides of the sanctuary cities debate during the regular session.

But a new group of people came to the House State Affairs Committee hearing to offer original testimony.

Several Hispanic, conservative evangelical pastors from around the state spoke out in opposition of the bill.

One of them, Gilberto Avila, a pastor from Tyler, testified against the measure on behalf of his conservative Restoration Christian Center and a group of 30 other Texas pastors who preach about socially conservative values.

Avila said he and the people he represent usually vote solely for pro-life candidates. But the measures before the committee have made him and others re-evaluate that stance, he said.

“We need to think more globally,â€