Bishop Urges Legal Assistance for Immigrants, U.S-mexican Agreement on Immigration Issues
WASHINGTON (March 21, 2002) -- A bilateral agreement on immigration issues should be a priority of the U.S.-Mexican summit this week, according to the Chairman of the Bishops' Migration Committee, who today also called for Senate action on a measure which would provide legal assistance to some immigrants in the United States.
Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Wenski of Miami called for Presidents Bush and Vicente Fox of Mexico to restart talks on immigration which were suspended following September 11. He urged "both nations to seize this moment and agree upon basic principles for reforming the U.S.-Mexico migration relationship."
He also urged the U.S. Senate to pass a temporary extension of current immigration law that "allows aliens who are not in a valid immigration status, who otherwise are eligible for a visa, and who have a family or employer-based visa immediately available to them to adjust their status while here in the United States rather than having to go back to their country of origin to complete the process."
The provision, section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, expired April 30, 2001.
"While the legislation is limited in scope, it will assist a significant number of individuals and families who will be allowed to remain together," Bishop Wenski said.
The full text of Bishop Wenski's statement follows:
"As chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration, I
welcome the meeting between President George W. Bush and President Vicente Fox of Mexico in Monterrey, Mexico, this week.
"Prior to the horrific attacks on our nation last September, President Fox had just completed a State visit to Washington which generated much hope for a bilateral agreement on migration between the United States and Mexico. Since that time, both countries rightly have focused upon security cooperation to prevent further attacks.
"Now is the time for both leaders to restart these important bilateral talks in earnest and make progress toward a comprehensive migration agreement. Any agreement should feature a legalization program for the undocumented and include measures which promote border safety along the U.S.-Mexico border.
"The Catholic Church in the United States stands ready to assist both Presidents in achieving immigration reform which enhances legal avenues for migration and respects the human dignity of the migrant. We urge both nations to seize this moment and agree upon basic principles for reforming the U.S.-Mexico migration relationship.
"In addition, I urge the U.S. Senate to quickly act to pass a temporary extension of Section 245 (i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This important provision of immigration law allows aliens who are not in a valid immigration status, who otherwise are eligible for a visa, and who have a family or employer-based visa immediately available to them to adjust their status while here in the United States rather than having to go back to their country of origin to complete the process. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 1885, which extends Section 245 (i) temporarily, last week.
"While the legislation is limited in scope, it will assist a significant number of individuals and families who will be allowed to remain together. It should be enacted immediately."