Immigration treats church sanctuary delicately

Over the past year, ICE has focused on raids at workplaces.

"They pick work sites because they understand it is work that acts as a lure for unauthorized migrants to come to the U.S.," said Louis DeSipio, a political science professor who teaches Chicano/Latino studies at the University of California, Irvine. "ICE is sensitive to the publicity effect of their actions. They are careful on respecting religion and churches."

At the same time, ICE must "take into account that there is a public image issue and that they're being taunted," Meissner said.

New Sanctuary Movement
Adalberto United Methodist gained widespread attention when it offered sanctuary to another immigrant, Elvira Arellano, who used it as a base to champion immigration reform.

Arellano stayed there for a year with her U.S.-born son, and frequently spoke about immigrant rights. She was arrested and deported to Mexico only after she left her sanctuary last August to travel to a rally in Los Angeles.

"We do conduct enforcement activities at a time and place of the government's choosing," said Myers, ICE's top official. "With Ms. Arellano, we believe that an appropriate time was when she was kind of traveling outside of the institution."

Arellano has been lauded as a heroine of the New Sanctuary Movement, which calls for immigration reform, and Crisostomo says she's following in Arellano's footsteps.

"We have to show the government that we are many, we are strong, we are humans and that we deserve respect in this country," said Crisostomo. "This is a church that was made to help the fight of people who are undocumented."

'Sacred space'
The New Sanctuary Movement, which makes living arrangements for illegal immigrants at churches, is modeled after a similar movement for Central Americans in the 1980s. Its goal is to call attention to immigration reform, but organizers believe sanctuary is a temporary solution, said Kristin Kumpf, a national organizer for the movement.

"The churches have been treated as sacred space," said Kumpf. But "no one can stay in sanctuary forever."

More from msnbc.com World Blog: ElBaradei rattles official Egypt Ideal beauty a matter of millimeters, study says Finally, Cuba celebrates with Kool FirstPerson: The season for giving back  Cosmic Log: The year in space Send your holiday pictures to troops

MORE FROM SECURITY

Security Section Front

White House picks new cyber czar Did ‘Jihadi cool’ lure students to Pakistan? Obama plan could limit secret documents U.S. sends 12 detainees to home nations Security Section Front   Add Security headlines to your news reader: