Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop Gomez Urge Congressional Leaders To Build Consensus On Immigration Reform

WASHINGTON—Congressionalleaders should “build consensus” toward reform of the nation’s immigrationlaws, said Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conferenceof Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, chairmanof the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, in a March 22 letter.

“Passage of immigration reform is moreimportant now than ever, as state laws and local enforcement initiatives arefilling the policy vacuum left by Congress,” the bishops wrote in a letter toHouse Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the MinorityLeaders of both chambers. “This has created a patchwork of laws and policiesthroughout the country which has led to discord in our communities.”

Cardinal Dolan and Archbishop Gomezexpressed concern over the impact that state and local initiatives are havingon immigrant families, which become separated because of these policies.

“Children are often the innocentvictims of these policies, which leave them without parents and with lessopportunity to live a full and productive life in their home country, theUnited States.”

The letter came on the eve of PopeBenedict XVI’s visit to Mexico. Around 60 percent of undocumented immigrants inthe United States are of Mexican origin.

The letter also indicated that theUSCCB will soon file an amicus brief supporting the “full authority” of thefederal government to “enact and implement” laws governing immigration.

Cardinal Dolan and Archbishop Gomezencouraged the leaders to address immigration reform as “soon as possible,” asnew State laws will continue to “tear at the social fabric of our nation, untilit is torn beyond repair.”

The letter is available online: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/immigration/letter-to-house-on-immigration-2012-march.cfm

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Keywords: Cardinal Timothy Dolan,Archbishop José Gomez, immigration, Congress, Pope Benedict XVI, visit, Mexico,letter, John Boehner, Harry Reid, reform, Arizona

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