Bishop lauds Bush's desire for comprehensive immigration reform

Published: 2007-01-29

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Migration applauded President George W. Bush's advocacy during his Jan. 23 State of the Union address for comprehensive immigration reform. "I welcome the remarks of President Bush," said Bishop Gerald R. Barnes of San Bernardino, Calif., in a Jan. 25 statement. "Comprehensive immigration reform is clearly a high priority for our nation and should be high on the agenda of the 110th Congress," he added. "The issue of immigration reform is ripe for federal action." Bush, in his address, asked Congress for "a serious, civil and conclusive debate so that you can pass -- and I can sign -- comprehensive immigration reform into law." Bishop Barnes said, "In part because of inaction at the federal level, states and localities are moving to adopt their own laws in this area. Americans throughout the country strongly desire that Congress solve the problem of illegal immigration." He added, "As the recent raids on meatpacking plants demonstrate, families are subject to separation and dislocation. As a moral matter, our nation can no longer accept the work and taxes of migrant laborers without offering them legal protection."

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