Archbishop Gomez decries failure to pass immigration reform, suggests intermediate steps

February 25, 2014

Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles criticized the House of Representatives for failing to take up the issue of immigration reform and called for the adoption of two intermediate measures.

The Senate passed the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act by a 68-32 margin in June, but the legislation has stalled in the House.

The prelate asked, “Are we going to let another year slip by and do nothing to address this deep and longstanding injustice in our society?”

“In my opinion, it would make sense for our leaders in Congress to take interim measures to ease some of the suffering, until they can find the political will to address this issue,” he continued. “Since 2008, our government has deported nearly 2 million people and nearly a half million more are locked up in immigration detention centers. And as I’ve been repeating, these are not just numbers, these are real people. One in every four persons who is being arrested or deported is being ripped out of their homes-- taken away from their children, their wives and husbands, all their relatives.”

“Second, it’s time to help the ‘dreamers,’” he added. “These are the millions of young men and women who were brought to this country illegally or are living in the homes of undocumented parents. It’s cruel, and it serves no purpose, to keep denying these kids any legal status.”

 

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Further information:

• What can we do now on immigration reform? (Archdiocese of Los Angeles)