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04-05-2006, 01:36 PM
Title: Bishops laud Senate immigration bill provisions, changes still needed (http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=19308)
Author: Patricia Zapor
Publisher: Catholic News Service (http://www.catholicnews.com/)
Date Published: April 4, 2006
Full Text:
Bishops laud Senate immigration bill provisions, changes still needed
by Patricia Zapor
WASHINGTON – The immigration bill approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee March 27 addresses many of the Catholic Church's concerns, although it also needs work, according to statements from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and other church representatives.
An April 3 letter to senators from Bishop Gerald R. Barnes of San Bernardino, Calif., chairman of the bishops' Committee on Migration, detailed what legislative proposals for immigration the bishops support and which ones they oppose.
The letter lauded provisions of the bill approved by the Judiciary Committee that would allow the 11 million to 12 million undocumented immigrants the chance to legalize their status, establish a temporary worker program and reorganize legal immigration procedures to reduce the backlog of applications for family reunification visas.
Bishop Barnes praised the committee bill for including legislation known as the Agricultural Jobs, Opportunity, Benefits and Security Act, or AgJOBS, and the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act, known as the DREAM Act.
AgJOBS would allow several hundred thousand agricultural workers already in the United States to legalize their status and seek permanent residency visas. The DREAM Act would create a way for students who were brought illegally to the United States by their parents to legalize their own status while getting a college education at in-state resident rates.
The letter also expressed appreciation for amendments to the committee bill that would exempt from criminal prosecution church and other humanitarian workers who provide social, medical and other types of service to undocumented immigrants. Amendments also eliminated previous provisions that would have retroactively imposed penalties on immigrants.
Those penalties were included in a version of immigration legislation passed by the House in December. Like the Senate Judiciary Committee's bill, and one proposed by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., the House legislation is among the possible laws being considered by the full Senate.
"We also are pleased that the committee rejected provisions from the House-passed version of H.R. 4437 that would criminalize unlawful presence," Bishop Barnes wrote. It currently is a violation of civil, not criminal, law to be in the country without permission.
Aspects of the committee bill dealing with due process rights are harmful, however, "and should either be stricken or ameliorated during Senate floor consideration of the measure," the bishop's letter said.
Among provisions that concern the bishops are those that would expand the definition of an aggravated felony, which would make "many deserving aliens ineligible for immigration relief."
Also troubling are provisions that would increase the use of "indiscriminate, mandatory and indefinite detention" and expand the use of expedited removal, he said. Those changes "might return refugees, asylum seekers, unaccompanied children, trafficking victims, battered spouses and other vulnerable populations to situations where they may face harm."
Bishop Barnes objected to provisions limiting judicial review "at a time when the judiciary has leveled unprecedented charges that the immigration court system is making unjust decisions," and that would empower state and local law enforcement agencies to enforce federal civil immigration laws.
A March 28 statement from Catholic Charities USA president Father Larry Snyder said he is grateful that the Judiciary Committee eliminated penalties for providing humanitarian assistance to illegal immigrants.
His statement reiterated the key goals the Catholic bishops and other organizations and their Justice for Immigrants campaign have promoted for immigration legislation. They include:
- A path to lawful permanent residency and citizenship for undocumented people already here.
- Improvements in legal immigration procedures to make it easier for families to be reunited and allowed to stay together.
- Promotion of national security.
- Creation of more legal avenues for necessary workers to be admitted to the United States.
A March 29 statement from Washington Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick emphasized those same points about pending legislation and encouraged the Senate to keep its debate "civil and respectful of the dignity we all have as children of God."
"I fear harsh rhetoric and punitive policies could further divide our country and people," he said.
The Jesuit Conference of the United States March 24 issued a statement warning that, "with emotions running high over immigration reform and both sides becoming more polarized, people of faith may feel torn by an apparent choice between national security and the call of Jesus to welcome the stranger."
"It's a false choice," said Father James R. Stormes, secretary for social and international ministries for the Jesuit Conference, "because America can secure its borders in a way that protects our labor force and promotes human rights by bringing 12 million people out of the shadows."
Submitted by Annonymous. Thanks.
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Author: Patricia Zapor
Publisher: Catholic News Service (http://www.catholicnews.com/)
Date Published: April 4, 2006
Full Text:
Bishops laud Senate immigration bill provisions, changes still needed
by Patricia Zapor
WASHINGTON – The immigration bill approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee March 27 addresses many of the Catholic Church's concerns, although it also needs work, according to statements from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and other church representatives.
An April 3 letter to senators from Bishop Gerald R. Barnes of San Bernardino, Calif., chairman of the bishops' Committee on Migration, detailed what legislative proposals for immigration the bishops support and which ones they oppose.
The letter lauded provisions of the bill approved by the Judiciary Committee that would allow the 11 million to 12 million undocumented immigrants the chance to legalize their status, establish a temporary worker program and reorganize legal immigration procedures to reduce the backlog of applications for family reunification visas.
Bishop Barnes praised the committee bill for including legislation known as the Agricultural Jobs, Opportunity, Benefits and Security Act, or AgJOBS, and the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act, known as the DREAM Act.
AgJOBS would allow several hundred thousand agricultural workers already in the United States to legalize their status and seek permanent residency visas. The DREAM Act would create a way for students who were brought illegally to the United States by their parents to legalize their own status while getting a college education at in-state resident rates.
The letter also expressed appreciation for amendments to the committee bill that would exempt from criminal prosecution church and other humanitarian workers who provide social, medical and other types of service to undocumented immigrants. Amendments also eliminated previous provisions that would have retroactively imposed penalties on immigrants.
Those penalties were included in a version of immigration legislation passed by the House in December. Like the Senate Judiciary Committee's bill, and one proposed by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., the House legislation is among the possible laws being considered by the full Senate.
"We also are pleased that the committee rejected provisions from the House-passed version of H.R. 4437 that would criminalize unlawful presence," Bishop Barnes wrote. It currently is a violation of civil, not criminal, law to be in the country without permission.
Aspects of the committee bill dealing with due process rights are harmful, however, "and should either be stricken or ameliorated during Senate floor consideration of the measure," the bishop's letter said.
Among provisions that concern the bishops are those that would expand the definition of an aggravated felony, which would make "many deserving aliens ineligible for immigration relief."
Also troubling are provisions that would increase the use of "indiscriminate, mandatory and indefinite detention" and expand the use of expedited removal, he said. Those changes "might return refugees, asylum seekers, unaccompanied children, trafficking victims, battered spouses and other vulnerable populations to situations where they may face harm."
Bishop Barnes objected to provisions limiting judicial review "at a time when the judiciary has leveled unprecedented charges that the immigration court system is making unjust decisions," and that would empower state and local law enforcement agencies to enforce federal civil immigration laws.
A March 28 statement from Catholic Charities USA president Father Larry Snyder said he is grateful that the Judiciary Committee eliminated penalties for providing humanitarian assistance to illegal immigrants.
His statement reiterated the key goals the Catholic bishops and other organizations and their Justice for Immigrants campaign have promoted for immigration legislation. They include:
- A path to lawful permanent residency and citizenship for undocumented people already here.
- Improvements in legal immigration procedures to make it easier for families to be reunited and allowed to stay together.
- Promotion of national security.
- Creation of more legal avenues for necessary workers to be admitted to the United States.
A March 29 statement from Washington Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick emphasized those same points about pending legislation and encouraged the Senate to keep its debate "civil and respectful of the dignity we all have as children of God."
"I fear harsh rhetoric and punitive policies could further divide our country and people," he said.
The Jesuit Conference of the United States March 24 issued a statement warning that, "with emotions running high over immigration reform and both sides becoming more polarized, people of faith may feel torn by an apparent choice between national security and the call of Jesus to welcome the stranger."
"It's a false choice," said Father James R. Stormes, secretary for social and international ministries for the Jesuit Conference, "because America can secure its borders in a way that protects our labor force and promotes human rights by bringing 12 million people out of the shadows."
Submitted by Annonymous. Thanks.
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