Plan to send immigrant kids to NY church draws ire

[hrmjustin]

FRANK ELTMAN

COMMACK, N.Y. (AP) — The possibility that a suburban New York church would play host to some of the tens of thousands of immigrant children illegally crossing the United States' border with Mexico to reunite with family is causing an uproar in one Long Island community.

The Rev. Dennis Walker says Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Commack would be able to pay off debts and create jobs if it took in about 40 children. But neighbors say the plan, details of which have yet to be released or approved, would be dangerous.

"I'm not prejudiced, don't get me wrong, but you know what, we have our own problems with our own people here," said Jerry Baggetta, a retiree who spoke on the front porch of his home just up the street from the church property. "What are we going to have to do? Live like prisoners and lock our doors and everything else?"

Sheryl Cambria, a special education teacher, told Newsday the proposal scares her: "I have two little kids. Who's to say my house is going to be safe?" New York City firefighter Michael Cantwell said: "It's basically going to be a hotel right next to my house."

http://www.fltimes.com/news/state/article_360a2fa5-ae82-5804-877a-5461d537beb9.html?mode=jqm

[In_The_Wind]

1. The locals were complaining about 'what it would do to the neighborhood'.

[hrmjustin]

2. Yes it is infuriating.

What the hell happened to compassion!

[In_The_Wind]

3. Compassion seems to be missing a lot times these days.

[hrmjustin]

4. Yep, and many of these people who lack compassion claim they follow a man of compassion.

Just so infuriating.

[notadmblnd]

5. I didn't get the impression that the church wanted to do it out of compassion

In fact it said in the article they wanted to do it for the money.

[hrmjustin]

6. Yes I am talking about the complainers in general.

No sense of compassion.