In June Alabama passed one of the toughest immigration laws in the country, and it’s set to go into effect on September 1. Among other things, the law makes it a crime to knowingly give an illegal immigrant a ride in a vehicle, and to hire undocumented workers. It’s already been met with opposition from farmers and contractors, and now church leaders are vocally expressing their opposition. A group of 150 of these leaders signed an open letter saying they intend to break the law, saying it interferes with their mission as Christians. We’re speaking about this with The Rev. Matt Lacey, a pastor at Woodlawn Methodist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. He says the law violates the concept of the good Samaritan and impedes him from operating programs such as a food pantry. State Senator Bill Holtzclaw, who supports the law, also joins us. He wants churches and pastors to help elected officials “refine” the immigration process.
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