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On Immigration, Replace Illegality with legality |
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By Mar Muñoz-Visoso
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Tuesday, 20 July 2010 |
Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, Arizona, recently testified, along with other faith leaders, before the House Subcommittee that deals with Immigration and Border Security. The bishop, whose diocese runs along the whole of the Arizona-Mexico border, spoke on the ethical imperative for reform of our immigration system.
 Entre Amigos
Mar Muñoz-Visoso
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Bishop Kicanas’ written testimony, though 17 pages long, is worth reading regardless of where one stands on this issue. It is a clear summary of the principles that guide the U.S. bishops’ position on the issue, as well as their recommendations in moving forward. Download the PDF HERE.
In his briefer but poignant oral testimony, Bishop Kicanas did not shy
away from several flashpoints in the debate, such as the acknowledgement
that law breakers must be held accountable while the penalty must also
be proportionate to the infraction (a fact that many opponents of a
legalization program choose to ignore); and the fact that resolving the
illegal immigration problem in this country really needs a multilayered,
comprehensive approach that includes but goes beyond protecting the
border and enforcement, as necessary as those are.
“From a moral perspective, as a nation we cannot accept the toil and
taxes of immigrants without providing them the protection of law,”
Bishop Kicanas said. “This creates a society which is dependent upon
workers yet who do not possess the same rights as others, both in the
workplace and communities, and perpetuates a permanent underclass in our
nation.” It is also bad for U.S. workers.
Yet that is exactly what we are doing. Over the years, U.S.
socioeconomics have fueled a huge demand for foreign workers that has
not been accompanied by an immigration system flexible enough to adapt
to our country’s needs for foreign labor. Just one example: our current
system allows only for 5,000 unskilled worker visas per year. It is
estimated that before the recession, the U.S. market was absorbing as
many as 500,000 foreign workers. Even in this economy, numerous
industries continue to have a hard time finding native workers to fill
certain jobs, largely depending still on foreign labor.
In many ways, our current immigration law is not only unenforceable but
untenable. My heart goes out to the border patrol agents who are, at
times, real heroes. Not only do they have the task of enforcing the
unenforceable, they also have been charged with the unenviable task of
stopping desperate people to return them in their desperation. They also
save lives by providing food and water to detainees they found lost in
the desert—people driven to dangerous and unauthorized crossings as they
seek to find a means to feed their family, or simply reunite with loved
ones.
Shouldn’t we allow the border patrol to put their best effort, knowledge
and skills to stop criminals, terrorists, smugglers, drug dealers? An
aside: More than 40 % of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. did not
cross the border illegally. They overstayed their visas.
Let’s get real. After decades of looking the other way, for financial
gain and convenience, we have allowed millions to put their roots here.
They have formed families. Many have citizen spouses, children and
grandchildren. They own businesses, which employ people and contribute
to our economy. We have youngsters who don’t know any other country but
this, souls in between two worlds, some of whom do not even speak the
language of their parents. We need to lend a hand to these young people
now.
“The rule of law is paramount, and […] those who break the law should
be held accountable,” Bishop Kicanas said. “Comprehensive immigration
reform would honor the rule of law and help restore it by requiring 11
million undocumented to pay a fine, pay back taxes, learn English, and
get in the back of the line. We believe this a proportionate penalty for
the offense.”
Comprehensive immigration reform is the answer, Bishop Kicanas said. “We
must have a new system which applies a humane but fair standard of law
to our immigration system, which replaces illegality with legality, and
which prepares our nation for the challenges of the 21st century, and
this must be achieved as soon as possible. To delay further will only
make the situation worse and further divide Americans.”
Amen to that. Now, let’s get it done.
Mar Muñoz-Visoso is assistant director of Media Relations at the
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
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