If you're in Arizona and look even remotely like some policeman's idea of an illegal immigrant, a law signed today says you will have to produce papers showing you're in the USA legally whenever and where-ever an officer requests this -- and so will anyone else with you. Now, faith leaders are calling this new law, signed by Gov. Jan Brewer this afternoon, a sin against God and man and at least one says believers should not comply. Faith in Public Life rushed out a press release round up of major faith groups calling this "an affront to moral conscience" and urging comprehensive national immigration reform. A sampling:
Rev. Jim Wallis, the evangelical leader of Sojourners, says,
The law signed today by Arizona Gov. Brewer is a social and racial sin, and should be denounced as such by people of faith and conscience across the nation. It is not just about Arizona, but about all of us, and about what kind of country we want to be. It is not only mean-spirited, it will be ineffective and will only serve to further divide communities in Arizona, making everyone more fearful and less safe. This radical new measure, which crosses many moral and legal lines, is a clear demonstration of the fundamental mistake of separating enforcement from comprehensive immigration reform. Enforcement without reform of the system is merely cruel. Enforcement without compassion is immoral. Enforcement that breaks up families is unacceptable. This law will make it illegal to love your neighbor in Arizona, and will force us to disobey Jesus and his gospel. We will not comply."
New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good says:
Throughout the Bible, God commands us in no uncertain terms to show kindness and hospitality to the foreigner and the stranger ... We join with Evangelicals and people of conscience everywhere in denouncing this wholly unbiblical and immoral law."
Gideon Aronoff, head of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, says:
The Jewish community has long called on our national leaders to reform our immigration laws to 'welcome the stranger' and to create an effective federal immigration system characterized by the rule of law and the humane treatment of newcomers. In the meantime, Arizonans are now living in a world where police may impound vehicles transporting anyone found to be an undocumented immigrant, which means that Arizonans who don't check the papers of the kids they drive to Sunday school may now be engaging in illegal activity. Arizona has taken itself out of the mainstream of American life and has betrayed the proud history of a nation built by immigrants.
