Eagle Pass, Texas ? For illegal immigrants weary from a long desert journey, the Rev. Jim Loiacono is there with food, shelter and sometimes a trip to Western Union.

He asks only to see U.S. Border Patrol papers, proof that the immigrant has promised to appear before a judge.

Loiacono, and other priests along the border, reflect Roman Catholic social teaching that recognizes the right of nations to control their borders, but also asserts that people who cannot support themselves have a right to find work in another country for their survival.

But promoting such compassion for illegal immigrants, and helping them once they are inside the United States, is a tough sell these days. Pressure grows on government officials to better secure American borders, especially after the 9-11 attacks.

Chris Simcox, co-founder of the Minuteman Project, a burgeoning vigilante group which fights illegal immigration, said there should be limits to mercy for people who break federal law.

“We have a long history of churches being sanctuaries because they perceive these people as being just children of God,” he said. “But how do they know they’re not aiding and abetting terrorists?”

An estimated 9 million to 13 million illegal immigrants live in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

In recent years, Eagle Pass, a town of about 22,000, has seen a rise in illegal immigrants, attracted by its central location between San Antonio and Monterrey, Mexico.

Some have darted across the city’s golf course, whose fairways line the banks of the Rio Grande. Others bunch on sidewalks en route to the downtown bus station. As many as 150 a day have passed through Eagle Pass this year.

“It’s a hard trek between Central America and the United States,” said Loiacono, pastor of Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church, a 500-member congregation four blocks from the U.S.-Mexico border. “They come here ragged and worn out. They really just need TLC at that point.”

Hilario Leal, spokesman for the Del Rio Sector of Border Patrol, which includes Eagle Pass, said agents were aware of the church’s aid to immigrants, but the agency’s focus is on border crossers and smugglers.

Eagle Pass Police Chief Tony Castaneda said he didn’t believe the church was breaking any laws or abusing its status in the community. Instead, he said the church was keeping illegal immigrants from desperation that makes criminal activity tempting.

“They’re not turning to petty crime and becoming a nuisance to our city,” he said. “Once they leave Border Patrol, very little assistance is given to them. Word has spread quickly to come to that church.”