As you may already know, the United States Senate has taken up the debate over immigration reform this week. This debate is simply not a matter of politics as usual but rather it is one of fundamental justice and fairness for our brothers and sisters from other parts of the globe.
Most notably the outcome of all this will have the greatest impact on our immediate neighbors in Latin America. Admittedly, the issue is complex with a number of various aspects to it including but not limited to issues of proper protections of our borders, questions of fundamental law, and our responsibility as Christians and Americans to always be welcoming to the stranger among us.
The Bishops of the United States have been outspoken in their urging to Congress to enact laws that balance the rule of law with justice and compassion for those who come to our country to seek only an opportunity to earn a living, feed their families, and live without fear of persecution. Let us not forget that we are a nation of immigrants ourselves and that the history of the Church in the United States is deeply rooted in immigration.
Here in Maine alone as many as 40,000 immigrants are among us. They work the fields in Aroostook at harvest time, pick apples in our orchids in the fall, rake the blueberry crop, work in our medical facilities and have many other occupations in our corporations as well as attending colleges. They worship with us in our churches.
Contrary to the stereotypes often depicted, employers report that they are honest, hard workers who contribute to the success of their enterprises. In Maine, as in other states, many immigrants have suffered indignities: divided families, wage exploitation, and lives vulnerable to fraud and crime as well as discrimination. We need to reform this broken system to create avenues for earned citizenship and thus provide for our brothers and sisters in Christ an opportunity to live in freedom and to be provided with opportunity.
I urge you to take the time to reflect upon this important issue, discuss it among your family and colleagues, and to call and/or e-mail Senators Collins and Snowe to express your concern that Congress do what is fair and just for immigrants and America.
Specifically we call for:
• Reform that includes earned legalization for the undocumented and their families, a temporary worker program, and timely family reunification policies;
• Restoration of due process protections for immigrants;
• Policy directions that address the root causes-so that migrants can remain in their home countries and support themselves and their families; and
• Reform that does not include sanctions for those who provide humanitarian aid for the undocumented.
We expect our public officials to work together in a bipartisan fashion to create a new immigration system which respects our common humanity, reflects the values of fairness, compassion and opportunity and recognizes that we are a nation of immigrants.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
