Evangelicals Split Over Illegal Immigration

May 14, 2006 — -- Maryada Vallet is a devout evangelical Christian and believes the Bible calls her to walk through the infernally hot Arizona desert, offering aid to immigrants illegally crossing the Mexican border.

She and her colleagues give them food, wash their blistered feet and even carry the exhausted to medical facilities.

"I really believe that Jesus would be here with us if he were alive today," Vallet said.

Vallet is frustrated that many of her fellow evangelicals are supporting a bill that would make all immigrants felons and would make anyone who helps them criminals, too.

"We believe it's never a crime to stop and help someone on the side of the road," she said.

Many Hispanic evangelicals -- a growing community -- passionately agree. But many white evangelicals take a hard line.

When Marc Galli, editor of Christianity Today, wrote an editorial entitled "Blessed Are the Courageous," praising illegal immigrants, he received a flood of angry e-mails.

"The feeling was if we allow illegal immigrants in and if we don't hold accountable the illegal immigrants that are here, we are going to have a country of anarchy," Galli said.

A Church Torn

Many white evangelicals say they're pulled between their biblical belief in law and order and the commandment to love one's neighbor.