House Likely To Change Immigration Bill
The Washington Times reports that the House version of the immigration bill is likely to be altered to remove the criminalizing of humanitarian assistance, following the lead of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and responding to the protests of religious leaders around the country.
House Republicans...said yesterday they are committed to rewriting a section of their immigration bill that caused an uproar among religious and humanitarian leaders who say the law could be used to prosecute them if they unwittingly give food or shelter to someone who turns out to be an illegal alien.
Since the House passed its bill in December, Democrats have seized upon the criticism as another reason for opposing the border security legislation.
"It is certainly not in keeping with my understanding of the Scriptures, because this bill would literally criminalize the good Samaritan and probably even Jesus himself," Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, New York Democrat, said last month.