Thread: Cardinal calls for end to immigration raids

Mar 21, 7:29 PM EDT

Cardinal calls for end to immigration raids

By RUPA SHENOY
Associated Press Writer

CHICAGO (AP) -- The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Saturday called on the White House to end immigration raids that split up families.

"I stand with other faith leaders and all of you gathered here today and with every immigrant family in this nation to call on our government to end immigration raids and the separation of families," said Cardinal Francis George at an immigrants-rights rally at a northwest Chicago church.

A diverse gathering of hundreds interrupted his remarks with cheering and clapping.

Without naming President Barack Obama, George said the current administration can fulfill its promises of change by working toward immigration reform. The rally was one in a 17-city series of meetings organized by advocates of changes to U.S. immigration policy, including U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill.

Raids are part of stepped-up federal enforcement targeting undocumented immigrants. While immigrant rights advocates claim the military-style tactic with armed officers are inhumane, officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement have defended them as an effective way of enforcing laws.

George said the Catholic church doesn't approve of people breaking the law, but it believes that everyone deserves respect. He said stopping raids would show the administration's sincerity to voters in the immigrant community.

"To separate families, wives from husbands, children from parents, is to diminish what God has joined," said George, who is archbishop of Chicago.

The cardinal's message resonated with 61-year-old Margaret Sents, who said her grandfather came to the U.S. from Ireland illegally. Now, her Mexican daughter-in-law faces deportation from the country, said Sents, who lives in the Chicago suburb of Glenview.

"I'm glad to see he's involved and on the job," she said of George. "He should be."

The rally is part of a 17-city series of meetings organized by advocates of changes to U.S. immigration policy.

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Raids are part of stepped-up federal enforcement targeting undocumented immigrants. While immigrant rights advocates claim the military-style tactic with armed officers are inhumane, officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement have defended them as an effective way of enforcing laws.

As they do in all cases of capturing criminals GEORGE!

George said the Catholic church doesn't approve of people breaking the law, but it believes that everyone deserves respect. He said stopping raids would show the administration's sincerity to voters in the immigrant community.

Then why not give the American citizen RESPECT SIR? Sincerity to voters in the immigrant community? Give me a break. Sincerity for what? That we should over look broken laws and give them a reward for breaking those laws? Reward them with citizenship and financial benefits?

Americans don't follow Cardinal Rule. "Separation of Church and State".

Dixie

HISTORY
The reason Texas was to become a independant nation is the rule change that stated "To own land in Mexico you must be catholic" many who were not Catholic decided to fight and die for independance and join the USA, this is the real reason for the Mexican American war. General Winfield Scott did his job and dominated Mexico in short order Mexico was for a short time part of the USA. The idea to devide the Mexico of the time was based upon population of catholics as some in the USA agreed with the Pope of the time and felt that Mexico should NOT become a part of the USA. Southern slave states did not like the idea of anti slave representation (as the inclusion of Mexico would have tipped the balance) in the house and senate growing. Mexico was handed millions for the land north of the rio grand with a populaion of less than 60,000 including natives that has become part of 8 us states, South of the rio grand was handed back to the same Leadership that General Scott so despised. Defectors from the USArmy such as the ST Patrick brigade who were told it was against the pope to fight with the USArmy and offered land in Mexico if they Turned.... Fought with Mexico against the USArmy useing US guns and still in American uniform... when 70 were captured outside of Mexico city at the citidel where Mexico used children soldiers (this event is acted out in all schools every year and the children are called "heros") the 70 ST Pats were hung by the neck..... Generl Scott felt that such a penalty was to be used only against "TRATORS and the FOOLS who would put children in front of MEN in battle."