Bishop expresses hope for immigration reform law in 2007

Published: 2007-01-19

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Growing public awareness that U.S. immigration laws are outdated, inhuman and unfair increases hope that Congress will pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill in 2007, said Bishop Thomas G. Wenski of Orlando, Fla. Immigrants illegally entering the U.S. face exploitation by employers, abuse by smugglers and death in the desert, he said. Immigrants "are hardworking, not lawbreakers. An antiquated system is breaking them," he said during a Jan. 18 teleconference with representatives of Hispanic, labor, business and public policy organizations. The organizations form part of the Alliance for Immigration Reform 2007, which plans to pressure Congress and President George W. Bush to enact a law this year. Bishop Wenski represented the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at the teleconference. He is a former chairman of the bishops' migration committee and current chairman of the bishops' international policy committee.

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .