Immigration agents posing as Mormons?

Federal officials looking to terrorize illegal immigrants have found a new tool: posing as Mormon missionaries.

University of California at Santa Barbara professor, Jacqueline Stevens, reported in The Nation that the ACLU is investigating a claim that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials visited a home, dressed in LDS clothing, attempting to confirm an immigrant was living there. Marina Lowe, a Salt Lake City ACLU Attorney was interviewed for The Nation piece:

The woman, who was suspicious of other visitors seeking her husband around the same time, said two people dressed like missionaries, but lacking black name badges commonly worn by Mormon emissaries, came to her door, Lowe said.

"It was purely her impression," Lowe said. "She was very suspicious."

The day after she confirmed for the visitors that her husband lived there...he was arrested by ICE agents.

One would think even ICE has its limits. Not so:

When Stevens was preparing her article, she asked ICE whether it is consistent with government policy for its agents to pose as religious workers. The e-mailed answer did not deny suchruses, but instead said tactics are effective to enhance officer safety. "They told me it's consistent with their policy," Stevens said. "Why would I doubt it?”

And not quite a denial from the Mormons:

LDS Church spokeswoman Kim Farah declined comment. "The church cannot comment on unsubstantiated allegations," she wrote Monday in an e-mail.

All this, while the immigration debate in Congress is heating up. Today's LA Times details the White House's commitment to getting a comprehensive immigration bill passed, without revealing its position on key issues. With this White House, as we know, the devils in the details.