What do you think of this approach?

Question

"A church that is sheltering an illegal immigrant from Mexico and her U.S.-born infant son will be billed nearly $40,000 for city police services during a weekend protest by anti-illegal immigration activists, 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.

Officials said that the church's public announcement that it would shelter an illegal immigrant provoked protesters to come and create a possible disturbance, which required the police presence."

http://www.fresnobee.com/384/story/142454.html

Thomas, I don't know if the person in the church overstayed or crossed illegally. If they crossed illegally a first offense is a crime punishable by up to 6 months in prison, as I understand it.

NOT that I am encouraging citizen's arrests...

"But this year, a 190-mile stretch of riverbank that includes the small border cities of Eagle Pass and Del Rio became a "zero-tolerance zone." If apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol, illegal immigrants are prosecuted by federal authorities for a misdemeanor, sent to jail for 15 to 180 days and then deported. If they are caught illegally entering the country a second time, they are eligible for a felony charge of illegal entry and as much as two years in federal prison."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/17/AR2006061700455.html

Answer 1

I think it's a great way to stop yet more illegal practices helping out illegal aliens. They'll have to change the slogan at the end of the Super Bowl from "I'm going to Disneyland" to "I'm going to Simi Valley".

I'm impressed that a city so close to LaLaLand has the cojones to actually take a stand and try to get compensation. It'll be interesting to see how this winds through the courts.

Oh wait...9th Circuit is the Appeals Court there. Fergeddabout it. The city will lose.

Answer 2

The church was advised by officials not to harbor an illegal alien. The church not only ignored that advice, they advertised their action. The only reason to make the announcement was to incite protest and attract media attention, perhaps along the lines of another Arellano-type.
Send the bill. Arrest the minister for harboring, aiding and abetting, inciting a riot, obstruction of justice. Bring all possible charges to bear.
Send the message, it is illegal to harbor an illegal alien, especially one under orders of deportation as this one is.

Answer 3

The protesters have the right to gather peacefully, but if they turn violent or violate the rights of others or their property it is the job of law enforcement to protect the rights of the church and they shouldn't have to be extorted to get that protection. I'm not saying that illegal immigration is a good thing, but that is simply the way I view it. The church should be able to take that to a higher court to see if the city has the right to force payment beyond tax monies to do their job.

Answer 4

It shows a gross ignorance of the law on the parts of both the protestors and the mayor. A higher court will definitely strike down this decision and probably award punitive damages.

First, the protestors claimed they were going to make a citizen's arrest. The problem is that merely being an illegal alien is not a crime. It is a violation of civil law, not criminal law. There is nothing for which to make an arrest. Only if the person has been previously deported is it a crime. Harboring an illegal immigrant is not harboring a fugitive. A lot of people may not like the law, but that is the law. Since I read so often here that "illegal is illegal", I would expect people of that sentiment to make themselves aware of what the law actually states.

Secondly, billing a church for the actions of people who are not its members is patently ridiculous. This mayor is actually risking being sued for civil rights violations, since he's going after a church.

Answer 5

I think the churches are the only ones who know what Gods word is when it comes to the treatment of an alien or any human for that matter!

Answer 6

I like that approach to dealing with Churches who break the immigration laws of the USA by aiding and abetting illegal aliens. But, I would prefer that ICE of the FBI arrest those clowns and have them tried for their crimes.

Answer 7

Love it! This is what should happen to all Churches that harbor illegal immigrants.

Answer 8

I have been thinking about this. I don't think it will stand up in court.

I know that with social work, we are bound by a code of ethics which is similar to what an attorney is bound to. We must act in the best interest of our children, and, are only supposed to report someone when we are told of a crime that is imminent (and dangerous- a murder, kidnapping, rape), or, felonious in nature.

I believe that churches have the same implication of privacy and respect, and, I would think that an attorney for the church would simply state that the church WAS NOT responsible for the actions of the protesters. The protesters would be the ones responsible for the charges incurred. It will be interesting to see how this plays out legally.

Answer 9

I agree. If you are going to organize an event that requires extra police to be present they should pay for it. Why would tax payers be held responsible for the cost?

This is normal practice. The city I live in requires event organizers to pay for extra police service before the permit is issued.

Answer 10

I say bill them.

The Church acknowledged that they were sheltering a known criminal (illegally in the country) and they need to own up to the consequences.