Thread: New Mexico Archbishop says House bill 'mean spirited'

http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=4555130&nav=HMO6HMaW

Feb 26, 2006, 10:34 PM

Roman Catholic Archbishop Michael Sheehan says a U.S. House proposal to build 700 miles of fence along the Mexican border in New Mexico, Texas, Arizona and California is "a very hostile act."

Sheehan called on the U.S. Senate to work out a positive immigration bill to counter the House's "mean-spirited" bill, which passed late last year on a vote of 239-182. He heads the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, which includes more than 300,000 Catholics.

The House's border security bill includes proposals to build fences in five cities along the U.S.-Mexico border and to enlist the military and local law enforcement to stop illegal entrants. It did not include a guest worker proposal sought by President Bush.

"When I think of walls, I think of the Berlin Wall," Sheehan said. "I think of it as a very hostile act."

"There's a kind of an unkind, anti-immigration spirit in our country today," said the archbishop, who called it a mistake to make criminals out of people entering the country illegally.

Mexicans are outraged by the House bill, especially the extension of a border wall, which many of them also likened to the Berlin Wall. The Mexican government has pledged to block the plan and to organize an international campaign against it.

The Senate has not passed an immigration bill. Once it does, senators will meet with members of the House to hash out differences in their legislation.

Many immigration advocates expect the Senate will not include many of the House measures.

Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., recently finished a bill of his own that would allow a work visa of nine years.

"Those who talk like, 'Let's just ship them home,' they don't understand the moral dimension of this issue," Domenici said.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., said the Senate will have a serious debate about undocumented workers.

Bingaman opposes the House bill, and said he hopes the Senate comes up with something that makes sense.

Representatives of a coalition of religious, labor and business groups said last month they generally favor legislation offered by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., that would permit illegal immigrants to obtain work visas for up to six years, with the opportunity to apply for permanent residency.

Sheehan said the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops also favors the McCain-Kennedy bill so far because it shows more mercy and practicality.

He said bishops see three key issues, to provide a way for undocumented workers to obtain permanent legal status under certain conditions, to offer a guest worker program that would let undocumented workers register and stay in the country for a number of years, and to show a greater appreciation for them.

"Our economy would be in shambles if all of a sudden the undocumented would be removed," said Sheehan, secretary of the conference.

Mexicans are outraged by the House bill, especially the extension of a border wall, which many of them also likened to the Berlin Wall. The Mexican government has pledged to block the plan and to organize an international campaign against it.

Well let the Senate pass a Amensty Bill. IF you want to See outraged. Plus we will all know who, will need to be deported from the Senate.