Mexican church, government officials denounce U.S. immigration bill

Published: 2005-12-22

MEXICO CITY -- Mexican church officials joined the Mexican government in denouncing an immigration bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that approves building a 700-mile fence along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexican border. "Migration problems aren't resolved by building walls or barriers, but rather through building bridges with dialogue between Mexico and the United States," Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera of Mexico City told reporters Dec. 18. The border fence would be built in parts of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, and would be equipped with lights and motion sensors. The bill would also make illegal presence in the United States a felony. Currently, illegal presence is a civil offense. The bill would also increase the role of the military and local law enforcement in dealing with immigration, and would require employers to check the legal status of workers.

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