Changing terms and hearts seen as key to immigration debate

Published: 2008-01-11

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The immediate future looks a bit grim for those trying to improve the lot of immigrants in the United States. Presidential candidates are trying to outdo each other in espousing harsher approaches to handling illegal immigration. There's essentially no chance of a comprehensive immigration bill moving through Congress until after the presidential election in November. Many state legislatures reconvening this month will work on bills that would require local police to enforce federal immigration laws and make it harder to get jobs, housing and public services without legal papers, as well as other measures meant to push immigrants who lack documentation to leave the jurisdiction. And the public rhetoric about immigrants just seems to be getting more and more acidic. But Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City, the new chairman of the U.S. bishops' migration committee, is optimistic that the church's faith-based position on aiding immigrants will eventually win the day -- changing hearts and attitudes in the United States. "It's about building bridges, not building fences," he said, summarizing the approach he believes the United States needs to resolve the tangled mess of immigration laws, policies and human situations.

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