Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno on Monday directed city departments to consider public safety and building code violations at South Congregational Church. That's after the church announced it intended to serve as a sanctuary for immigrants who are undocumented and face deportation.
This is not a new idea. Churches around the country have housed immigrant families, because federal authorities tend to avoid arrests in places of worship.
The Rev. Tom Gerstenlauer is pastor at South Congregational. He tells us the congregation hopes to be fully prepared to accept immigrants within the next month.