Illegal Immigrants in N.J. Sue Salvation Army

Six illegal immigrants have sued the Salvation Army and two former officials of one of its New Jersey affiliates, charging that they were falsely promised help in gaining U.S. citizenship, reports the Associated Press.

The Rev. Enoc Tito Sotelo told members of his Plainfield Salvation Army church, many of whom are Latino, that he would help win legal status for each person who paid $4,000 plus made a $500 donation to the church, the lawsuit charges.

A lawyer for the immigrants says that a Salvation Army captain, Jorge Sancho, also misled his clients.

None of the six immigrants, all of whom came from Latin America, were able to gain legal status as citizens.

A spokeswoman for the Salvation Army chapter in New Jersey did not comment, but said Mr. Soleto was fired in April and Mr. Sancho was let go in November, the Associated Press reports. Neither man could be reached for comment.