Christian Right Split Over Immigration

Religious conservativesbared their internal struggles over immigration Thursday at an unusually frankpublic debate, demonstrating that the most powerful faction of the RepublicanParty is as divided as the party itself on the issue.

Torn between the values ofChristian compassion and a disapproval of lawbreaking — with an undercurrentof angst about cultural change — social conservatives and their politicalallies squared off in the face of internal polls that show their “valuesvoters” overwhelmingly prefer strong border security.

The Family ResearchCouncil, which sponsored Thursday’s debate, surveyed its members earlier thismonth and found that by a ratio of 9 to 1, they believe undocumented immigrantsshould be “detected, arrested and returned to their country oforigin.”

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