Free Republic

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. Dozens of anti-illegal immigration activists faced off against immigrant-rights backers at a rally outside a church where an illegal immigrant is being sheltered with her U.S.-born infant son. One immigrant-rights advocate was injured with a chemical spray during Sunday's confrontation at the United Church of Christ, officials said. Members of the anti-illegal immigration group Save Our State, which organized the rally that drew about 120 protesters and counter-protesters, said they had hoped to make a citizen's arrest of the woman, who has identified herself only as Liliana. Liliana is living in the church's former parsonage as part...

The Tucson-born and now historic Sanctuary Movement that in the 1980s provided a haven for Central American refugees continues to influence immigration policy, but its causes have not been won. "The Sanctuary Movement is over. We're finding new ways and forms to deal with the current crises,'' said the Rev. John Fife, pastor of Southside Presbyterian Church, 317 W. 23rd St., who co-founded the movement and has three criminal convictions for alien smuggling. "There are human rights violations occurring all along this border. And certainly violations of refugee rights." Sunday marks 20 years since members of the movement first went...