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USCCB: reform ‘inhumane’ immigrant-detention system

May 12, 2015

The United States Conference of Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services and the Center for Migration Studies have published a 44-page plan to reform the nation’s immigrant-detention system, which they described as “inhumane.”

The plan concludes with nine recommendations.

“We have repeatedly spoken of the Gospel imperative to protect the rights of refugees, to promote the reunification of families, and to honor the dignity of all persons, whatever their status,” said Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, the chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Migration, and Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, the chairman of the Center for Migration Studies.

“Yet the US immigrant detention system represents a far cry from solidarity or communion,” they added. “It divides us from our brothers and sisters. It contributes to the misconception that immigrants are criminals and a threat to our unity, security and well-being. It engenders despair, divides families, causes asylum-seekers to relive trauma, leads many to forfeit their legal claims, and fails to treat immigrants with dignity and respect.”

 


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  • Posted by: jrorr19609092 - May. 19, 2015 1:02 AM ET USA

    Heather Mac Donald, an editor of City Journal. "The lesson from the last 20 years of immigration policy is that lawlessness breeds more lawlessness." "The Secure Communities program is a commonsensical response to illegal alien criminality...In 2012 ICE was notified of over 400,000 illegal jail detainees,but only removed 19% 4 deportation. About 50% of the criminal illegal aliens whom ICE chooses not to deport reoffend upon release." Google Imprimis Practical Thoughts on Immigration. Feb 2015

  • Posted by: wsw33410 - May. 12, 2015 4:12 PM ET USA

    Dear USCCB-how about taking care of this: In a massive survey of 35,000 Americans, the Pew Research Center found that 71% identified themselves as Christians. That number was dramatically down 2007, when a similar poll found 78% were Christians. In the 2007 survey, Pew found 16% of respondents were not affiliated with any church. In the new study, conducted in 2014, that figure was 23%. The Pew survey showed a decline in the US Catholic population, from 53 million to 51 million.