http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=58203

Catholic Charities USA Strongly Opposes Enforcement-Only Immigration Bill in House

12/15/2005 9:35:00 AM


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To: National Desk, Congressional Correspondent

Contact: Shelley Borysiewicz of Catholic Charities USA, 703-549-1390, ext. 147 or sborysiewicz@catholiccharitiesusa.org

ALEXANRIA, Va., Dec. 15 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Calling the legislation "extremely punitive to immigrants and their families," Catholic Charities USA urged members of the U.S. House of Representatives to oppose the Border Enforcement and Immigration Enforcement Act of 2005.

The legislation, introduced by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R- Wis.) and approved by the House Judiciary Committee last week, is a sweeping enforcement-only measure that targets legal and illegal immigrants alike and further eviscerates due process protections for immigrants in this nation.

"H.R. 4437 would not only impose severe and unjust consequences for immigrants, it is overly broad and extremely punitive to immigrants and their families with or without legal status in our country," wrote Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA in a letter to the House.

Catholic Charities USA is very concerned with some of the draconian provisions contained in the bill, which would:

-- make it a crime to reside in the U.S. illegally. Currently, illegal immigration is only a violation of civil statutes, not a crime;

-- deny due process rights to immigrants and permanent residents;

-- establish mandatory minimum sentences for immigrants who have reentered the U.S. illegally after being deported;

-- create mandatory minimum sentences regarding immigrant "smuggling" as well as broaden the definition of immigrant "smuggling" provisions to include anyone who assists non-citizens who lack lawful status to reside or remain in the United States, putting family members, employers and immigrant advocates at risk;

-- expand the definition of aggravated felon; and

-- increase mandatory detention.

In his letter, Fr. Snyder urged Congress to instead support a comprehensive approach to immigration reform that would address the nation's security and immigration system and include an earned legalization program, a temporary worker program, and family-based immigration reform.

To recognize the thousands of immigrants who have lost their lives crossing the U.S.-Mexican border, Catholic Charities USA this week launched a special Web page where visitors can light a virtual candle in memory of these immigrants and demonstrate their own solidarity with the plight of many of our nation's newcomers. The page can be found at http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.

The letter is online at http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/news/letters/ .

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