Cardinal Rigali asks Senate to reject House immigration bill

Published: 2006-01-10

PHILADELPHIA (CNS) -- Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia has asked the Senate to reject a House-passed immigration bill that stresses law enforcement to prevent illegal immigration. "A more comprehensive and humane approach to immigration reform" is needed, he said in a Jan. 9 statement. The Senate should support legislation "that reforms all aspects of our nation's immigration system, not simply law enforcement," he said. The statement was issued to coincide with National Migration Week, celebrated Jan. 8-14 this year by the U.S. Catholic Church. The cardinal urged the Senate to consider legislation that would allow the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. to legalize their status. This would be an "earned legalization" program that would require immigrants "to work for up to six years before applying for legal permanent residence," he said. "Earned legalization is not amnesty," he said.

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