Church doors have always been open to the poor and ailing as a place of refuge. Now, some Long Island pastors are offering sanctuary to illegal immigrants facing deportation.

Rev. Carlos Vargas of the Freeport Bible Center announced Monday he will offer safe haven to employed illegal aliens who have no criminal record. Vargas, president of the Hispanic Pastoral Association, said at least 45 other churches will do the same.

"We cannot, in good conscience, ignore such suffering and injustice," Vargas said.

The move comes as the feud between day laborer advocates and opponents has reached new heights. Last month, an anti-loitering bill to ban workers from congregating on county roads was narrowly defeated in the Suffolk County Legislature.

Meanwhile, it seems momentum is growing behind the idea of designated hiring sites. Southampton, for instance, is moving toward constructing such a site.

Vargas acknowledged that immigration officials reserve the legal right to enter a church. Nonetheless, Vargas said he'd prefer it not come to that.

"Historically, they have never done that, and we hope that they never violate the sanctity of the organization."

In addition to offering sanctuary, immigrant advocates said they plan to organize a work boycott on May 1. They said it will be similar to last year's "Great American Boycott," when day laborers and other illegal aliens nationwide did not work for one day in demonstration of their impact on the economy.

Related Information: Southampton mayor creates day laborer hiring site Suffolk Legislature votes down anti-loitering bill