The church which was harboring the immigrants should pay, they were the root cause of any protests and the resulting confrontation. Furthermore they should have their tax exempt status removed for breaking or encouraging the breaking of our laws.

The church should pay the $40,000--They chose to help the illegals break the law and also the ones at the church who helped should be in jail--I'm sick and tired of the church an their crap (like protecting the priests who hurt children)--In fact WHY has that Mahoney not been charged ?????

You can't have it both ways. If there is to be a separation of Church & State then keep politics out of the pulpit. If you're going to use your church to make a political statement; then you surrender that separation and the protections that go with it by your actions. The Church needs to pass the plate to pay this bill & while they're at it they might ponder the long term consequences of their self righteous actions on the rest of the community. Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot we were in California where political correctness trumps common sense every time. Guess I'll have to foot that bill (along with every other tax payer) so we can bring more illegal immigrants into the USA so we can feed & worry over them while our own families sink into the financial quagmire created by this desperate attempt to collect votes for the Democratic Party.

Who broke the law? The church was aiding and abetting an illegal immigrant. That illegal act was the instigation for the whole thing. The protesters were peacefully exercising their free speech rights under the First Amendment

Why not take a poll to see how many law-abiding taxpayers would like to see the tax exempt status removed from any religious organization who condones and assists law breaking illegal immigration. Even the liberal left might be shocked into their senses.

The church was a co-conspirator for the illegal. They should pay and lose their tax exemption. The RICO laws should also go after them.

It should be Safe our State who should pay the bill, when they stage the protest, they should expect the police will be there to protect the place, therefore payment should be coming from them. The church did not create any trouble at all. Be reasonable guys.

You have heard the old saying, United we stand, Divided we fall? Well America is certainly divided over this major issue, that is gaining momentum everyday. Personally, I'm fed up with escalating taxes from both the state and federal government to support the estimated 20 million plus foreign nationals who have illegally occupied our land. Now that Arizona, Missouri and Georgia have enacted harsh immigration laws, millions of illegal aliens are fleeing to other states. Los Angeles, being a "Sanctuary City" millions more will arrive here very soon. Of course now we have churches and religious organization violating immigration laws. What about the laws of Separation of Church and State? To me they are violating their tax free charter and crossing the line when harboring illegal aliens.We already have traffic gridlock and water shortages because of the drought, I wonder what our future will be?
www.numbersusa.com

You have heard the old saying, United we stand, Divided we fall? Well America is certainly divided over this major issue, that is gaining momentum everyday. Personally, I'm fed up with escalating taxes from both the state and federal government to support the estimated 20 million plus foreign nationals who have illegally occupied our land. Now that Arizona, Missouri and Georgia have enacted harsh immigration laws, millions of illegal aliens are fleeing to other states. Los Angeles, being a "Sanctuary City" millions more will arrive here very soon. Of course now we have churches and religious organization violating immigration laws. What about the laws of Separation of Church and State? To me they are violating their tax free charter and crossing the line when harboring illegal aliens.We already have traffic gridlock and water shortages because of the drought, I wonder what our future will be?
www.numbersusa.com

Anyone who claims LA is a sanctuary is being irresponsible and should be fined, charged, or sued.

I'm not condoning illegal immigration, or aiding and abetting anyone doing so. However, I want to point out that many years ago San Luis Obispo County tried to bill an anti-nuclear group for the costs of Sheriff's deputies working an an anti-nuke rally . The Court of Appeal determined that such billing was unlawful. That is the established law of the state, so Simi Valley cannot charge the church. I haven't lived in Simi for 15 years, but back then we had some very bad lawyering done for the city. I'm sad that the city is still getting bad legal advice, because ultimately it costs them a lot of money.

Maybe they can bill the U.S. Gov. for letting these people in? Or Mexico for sending them here? Where is I.C.E.???

Unfortunately, most of the comments I've read in this blog regarding the church's harboring of an illegal are pure vituperation based on ignorant points of view. The immigration issue is a complex one. There are no "easy" solutions. Sure, we can round up all the illegals, and fence our country in like a police state; remember Berlin during the cold war anyone? However that's not going to resolve the problem. It's not that simple. If we deport all the "illegal" cheap labor, expect your cost for food, mainly produce (fruits, vegetables, etc)to skyrocket. American harvest workers who take over "illegal" alien jobs will want to make reasonable wages for the work, which is fair. However most Americans don't or will not want to pay up. That's why there's a market for illegals. The economy could take a big hit. No one really knows what impact positive or negative the illegals have on the economy. There are good arguments on both sides. Yes some are a "drain" on services (schools, medical, legal,etc.), but they also pay taxes (that they won't collect in Social Security) and purchase goods that sustain the economy; with cash mind you. It's not as simple as let's "round 'em all up!" I believe in a strict separation of church and state. In this case I believe both the church (for harboring illegals) and the "anti-illegal whatever" organization (if they didn't have a permit to protest/assemble) should pay up. Unlike the immigration issue, this problem of who should pay appears quite simple to resolve.---Capmoon

The city of Simi and its Mayor and officials wanted to send a message that they don't want to be a sanctuary city like L A, and they did that. That church or any other will think again before they harbor illegals, which is the point.

I wish L A did the same with Cardinal Mahoney's church, and stuck them also with the millions in lawsuits from allowing the pro-illegals to march on May 1st in the first place.

That's what happens when you bend over backwards to allow people their "civil liberties," even if they're breaking or advocating breaking, the law. Thanks to Carol Sobel and other lawyers who are looking to sue our too-liberal city.

The Church should pay the $40,000 because they broke the law and also loose any Federal Government Funding and there tax exemption for braking the law. If we do not make it hard on them they will continue to brake the law.

The church should clearly pay since they are breaking a federal law in harboring illegal aliens. In addition, ICE must arrest them for violating the same law.
Federal immigration laws make it illegal to "encourage or induce an alien come to, enter, or reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law." 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv). Federal immigration laws also make it unlawful to aid or abet the commission of such acts. 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A)(v)(II).
Citizens need to contact ICE to have the church leaders and illegal aliens arrested.

Federal Gov. should pay. President Bush is the one who REFUSES to secure the border.

Of course the Church should pay this bill and it is legally responsible for paying this bill! Not only should they pay and are legally responsible for paying, because they have crossed the line and violated the separation of Church and State, but the Church should also loose it's tax exempt status! This is a clear cut violation of law on the churches part on several different counts! I personally am sickened by clergy who can not even follow God's laws, dictate man's law! Defrock the hypocrite and ride him out of town on a splintery rail, I say!!

Of course the Church should pay this bill and it is legally responsible for paying this bill! Not only should they pay and are legally responsible for paying, because they have crossed the line and violated the separation of Church and State, but the Church should also loose it's tax exempt status! This is a clear cut violation of law on the churches part on several different counts! I personally am sickened by clergy who can not even follow God's laws, dictate man's law! Defrock the hypocrite and ride him out of town on a splintery rail, I say!!