Sancturary for Illegal Immigrants?

Have you heard of the New Sanctuary Movement? The New Sanctuary Movement is a small but growing coalition of churches, synagogues and other houses of worship that is challenging the immigration system, despite legal risk.

The congregations say the immigration system mistreats immigrants and breaks families apart. They want to end raids of job sites that have led to the arrest of thousands of undocumented workers, and they're lobbying for policies that would help keep the families of illegal immigrants together and in the USA.

Drawing on the tradition of sanctuary, in which churches declare themselves safe havens for those fleeing violence or prosecution, congregations from New York to San Diego have begun to view supporting illegal immigrants — and occasionally sheltering them from deportation — as a moral and religious duty.

What do you think? Do our faith communities have a religious obligation to help shelter and protect illegal immigrants? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Also, you might like to check out the story on the New Sanctuary Movement in today's edition of USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-07-08-sanctuary_N.htm