U.S. bishops' president presses Bush to veto bill on border fence

Published: 2006-10-12

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Extending the fence along the U.S.-Mexican border will lead to more deaths and violence, warned the president of the U.S. bishops' conference in a letter urging President George W. Bush to veto the Secure Fence Act. The bill, passed by Congress in the waning days of the session before the October campaign break for midterm elections, "could lead to the deaths of migrants attempting to enter the United States and increases smuggling-related violence along our border," said Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Bishop Skylstad said the 700-mile fence authorized in the bill also "would send the wrong signal to our peaceful neighbor to the south, Mexico, as well as to the international community." The letter, dated Oct. 10 and released by the USCCB Oct. 11, said the fence also will not solve the problem of illegal immigration. Meanwhile, Mexico's foreign secretary said his nation is considering taking the issue of the fence to the United Nations.

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