New immigration bill presents fair deal for all

Posted on March 28, 2007


US parishes with high immigrant populations are this week hoping for the successful adoption by congress of a new immigration reform bill, which would halt the increasing number of deportations of foreign nationals seeking asylum in the States.
Fr Anton Kcira from the St Paul (Albanian) Church in Rochester Hills, Detroit said that since 2005 both he and a neighbouring parish in Beverly Hills had seen a large increase in the numbers of his Albanian parishioners being deported.
“Last year we lost about 200 families, and Our Lady of Albanians lost 120,” he said.
Fr Kcira, who recently conducted an outdoor service for deportees and their families, which was attended by more than 1,000 people, added that the deportations had split hundreds of families. The new immigration bill, a bipartisan effort to alter the current law, was introduced to congress last Friday.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the bill “reflected a strong commitment by a bipartisan group of House members toward realistic and comprehensive immigration reform. Our priorities on immigration reform are clear.
“Our first responsibility to the American people is their safety. We must secure our borders and enforce our laws, while also protecting against discrimination and adhering faithfully to the rule of law,” she added.
“At the same time, we must enact immigration reform that is humane and honours our American tradition of being a nation of immigrants and a land of opportunity for all.”

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