Why ban missionaries from helping migrant children in need?

Feds: Pastors not welcome at immigration camps

By Todd Starnes (Fox News)

Pastors and churches have been banned from helping the thousands of illegal immigrant children housed in border detention facilities run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, clergy in Texas and Arizona tell me. “Border Patrol told us pastors and churches are not allowed to visit,” said Kyle Coffin, the pastor of CrossRoads Church in Tucson, Arizona. “It’s pretty heartbreaking that they don’t let anybody in there — even credentialed pastors.” A public affairs officer for the Border Patrol confirmed that ministers and church groups have been banned from the Nogales Placement Center… Pastor Coffin even asked if they could provide the children with toys, blankets and food. But the federal government’s response was the same – no donations allowed. “We just wanted to go down there and have a presence because we care about people,” he said. “That’s all we wanted to do. For the church to be available sends a message that the church cares.” Religious folks in San Antonio had a similar experience. One professional counselor at a camp run by BCFS, an organization previously known as Baptist Child and Family Services, said there were no clergy at all. “The clergy needed to be involved with the children,” my source told me. “The children were very spiritual and their spiritual needs were not being cared for…” (read full story at Fox News)