US bishops reiterate call for passage of immigration-reform legislation

June 11, 2013

Speaking at a press conference near San Diego, where the US bishops are on retreat, three prelates called for the passage of immigration-reform legislation.

“While not perfect, the Senate legislation is a major improvement on the status quo and will aid millions of persons,” said Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento. “We will resist amendments that add harsh enforcement measures to the bill or weaken or eliminate changes to the legal immigration system, including the path to citizenship.”

“As we move forward with the immigration reform legislative process, I would like to point out several upcoming issues that can be problematic,” added Bishop John Wester, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Communications Committee. “Making the legalization program contingent upon border metrics that are practically impossible to achieve would effectively prevent the undocumented from ever becoming citizens, or even legal residents … would render the immigration reform program useless and the bill not worth supporting.”

“We would oppose amendments that would reduce the number of persons eligible for the path to citizenship,” he added. “Additional measures to make the path to citizenship more difficult, such as an increase in fines or imposition of other difficult income and employment requirements, or amendments to remove the citizenship option altogether, also will meet our opposition.”

 

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Further information:

• Senate Urged To Improve And Approve Immigration Reform Legislation (USCCB)
• Statement of Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles (USCCB)
• Statement of Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City (USCCB)
• Statement of Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, California (USCCB)