"No Churches, Pastors Allowed" Border Patrol Refuses Christian Help, Donations in Facilities

Aimee Herd : Jul 14, 2014
Todd Starnes – FOX News

"Border Patrol told us pastors and churches are not allowed to visit. It's pretty heartbreaking that they don't let anybody in there— even credentialed pastors." -Kyle Coffin, the pastor of CrossRoads Church in Tucson, Arizona.

(Arizona)—According to many media reports, churches and pastors are not being allowed to help the thousands of children currently being housed in border detention facilities, who have no family or guardians with them. (Photo via FOX News)

Todd Starnes of FOX News reports that Pastor Kyle Coffin, from CrossRoads Church in Tucson, Arizona, asked Border Patrol if his church could at least provide the children with food, blankets and toys while they were being held.

However, he was told that donations are not being allowed.

"Due to the unique operational and security challenges of the Nogales Placement Center, religious services provided by outside faith leaders are not possible at this time," a Border Patrol agent said in a statement.

Pastor Coffin told FOX's Starnes, "That frustrates me to no end, to be honest with you. It drives me absolutely nuts that our government would turn us away."

"Back in the day, if you were in trouble and poor, the first thing you thought of was going to the Church. Whether it was for food, clothing, shelter or helping pay bills—the Church was the front line. Now, it's the government who is the front line."

Coffin added, "We're not anti-government at all. We think the government is equipped to do what they were constitutionally created to do—and not do the Church's job."