Bishops Speak Out Against Immigration Laws

POSTED: 12:11 pm MST March 8, 2010

PHOENIX -- The Bishops of the Catholic Conference of Arizona are speaking out against proposed legislation that would make Arizona the only state in the country to criminalize the presence of illegal immigrants.

The proposal, now under consideration at the state Legislature, also would require police to try to determine people's immigration status when there's reasonable suspicion they are in the country illegally.

The Catholic bishops in Phoenix, Tucson and Gallup, N.M., said the legislation may make illegal immigrants afraid to report crimes, allowing some dangerous criminals to stay on the streets.

The bishops also said criminalizing the presence of illegal immigrants may lead to unintended consequences. They said the legislation doesn't limit enforcement, so authorities could criminalize the presence of children.


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