USCCB: ‘strong opposition’ to RAISE Act
August 03, 2017
Bishop Joe Vásquez of Austin, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, announced his strong opposition to the Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment (RAISE) Act (S.354).
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), would limit the number of refugees admitted annually to the US to 50,000.
The bill would also restrict legal immigration by limiting the pool of family-sponsored immigrants to spouses and children. Current law allows for the sponsorship of other family members, such as parents and siblings.
“Had this discriminatory legislation been in place generations ago, many of the very people who built and defended this nation would have been excluded,” Bishop Vásquez said on August 2, adding:
The United States supports families and should not throw up obstacles to their unity. Unfortunately, the RAISE Act would have our nation turn its back on this long and storied tradition of welcoming families setting out to build a better life.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: jalsardl5053 -
Aug. 04, 2017 7:12 PM ET USA
More PC nonsense from the USCCB. Still waiting for their "strong opposition" to everything that destroys helpers of the very people he is talking about: to wit, the closing of many Catholic charitable organizations, hospitals, etc. due to newly formed legal consequences. Also waiting for their "strong opposition" that drives people from their homes. Also waiting for their "strong opposition" to Socialism which destroys entire economies. Color me a skeleton.
-
Posted by: brenda22890 -
Aug. 04, 2017 5:48 AM ET USA
The Bishop needs to brush up on his history - - and, again, stay focused on his own competence and out of politics.
-
Posted by: jackbene3651 -
Aug. 03, 2017 10:07 PM ET USA
So the bishop is against higher wages for Americans?
-
Posted by: james-w-anderson8230 -
Aug. 03, 2017 8:59 PM ET USA
The Bishop says in part "The United States supports families ... " Actually the US destroys families with our welfare system which rewards the breakup of families; and by the forcing of abortion on people around the world. The Bishop would better serve the country by working against these two long standing evils.
-
Posted by: aclune9083 -
Aug. 03, 2017 6:00 PM ET USA
Well-intentioned but dismissive of the political realities of the current age. All nations have a right to defend themselves, even if it means establishing entrance criteria for immigrants to weed out, as best as we can, those who appear to threaten the rest of us with their political views. The exception would be those fleeing political/religious persecution...but we didn't do so well with the European Jews of the 1930"s, did we?
-
Posted by: Lucius49 -
Aug. 03, 2017 5:47 PM ET USA
Any nation's immigration law is discriminatory otherwise you would have open borders! There is no right to come to the U.S. Bishop Vasquez needs a lesson in American history. From the 1920's until 1965 virtually no immigration. There is no magic "social justice" number in Catholic doctrine for immigrants! There needs to be a halt in immigration to allow for assimilation to our country. A balkanized U.S.destroys national identity but aids the enemies of the countries foreign and domestic.
