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PDF versionImmigration conference deals with the tough questions
Jan. 19, 2012
Seth Grossman, left, chief of staff for the DHS Office of General Counsel, and John Sandweg, center, special counselor to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, answer questions from conference participants Jan. 13 at the immigration conference in Salt Lake City. Looking on is moderator Kevin Appleby, director of the Office of Migration and Refugee Policy Department of Migration and Refugee Services for the bishops' conference.
SALT LAKE CITY -- Putting the cart in front of the horse is one way to describe the federal government's pursuing immigration enforcement before immigration reform, according to participants at a recent conference here.
The three-day gathering was convened in Salt Lake City by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and its Migration and Refugee Services, and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc. (CLINIC).
The aim of the conference was to inform those working in the immigration sector of current law and policy at state and federal levels as well as to equip them with the strategies needed to help the immigrants they serve and help move the immigration reform debate to the forefront of the national political discussion.
Attendees came with questions and concerns about current enforcement policies in their states, as well as clarification questions as to how these policies, such as Secure Communities, work. They had a chance to network with others involved with this issue in the church.
"We don't have any problems with the 'rule of law' and that [the Department of Homeland Security] has to enforce the law," said Kevin Appleby, sharing with attendees some of the interests and concerns of the U.S. bishops and CLINIC. Appleby is the director of the Office of Migration Policy and Public Affairs at the bishops' Migration and Refugee Services.
"But we have concerns with the fact that there are immigrants who have been here for years, that they built equities in our country, they have contributed, they have U.S. citizen children, and that they should be given consideration as priorities of the department," he continued before introducing the question-and-answer session with Homeland Security representatives.
Attendants of the immigration conference in Salt Lake City listen to Seth Grossman and John Sandweg answer questions from conference participants Jan. 13.The conference title, "Immigration: A 50-State Issue," reflects the atmosphere in the country. As the federal government fails to enact comprehensive immigration reform, more and more states are enacting laws of their own to regulate immigration. Arizona was the first to pass a controversial enforcement bill in 2010, requiring local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws, among other things. Although it is being challenged in court, other states have used the Arizona law as a model for their own.
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"A lot will be determined this year, certainly with the national election both in Congress and [for the president]," Appleby told NCR. "And then what the Supreme Court says about the Arizona law will set the direction for the debate, because if they uphold that law, it means other states have the green light to move ahead. ... If they strike down most of it, then it cleans the slate, takes some momentum out of the state initiatives, and redirects the attention to Congress."
The topics of Secure Communities, prosecutorial discretion, privatized detention centers and deportations attracted debate and questions from the attendees and speakers at the Jan. 11-13 conference. Comments abounded over President Barack Obama not sticking to his immigration promises, but more spoke of Congress' ineptness and lack of effort on the issue.
Speakers came from the Department of Homeland Security, the Center for Migration Studies in New York, the Washington, D.C.-based CLINIC, the National Immigration Law Center in Los Angeles, and other immigration offices, as well as directors from Catholic conferences, Catholic Charities and diocesan offices.
Donald Kerwin, director for the Center for Migration Studies and former executive director of CLINIC, told conference attendees that the "rule of law" is an aspirational standard.
"I'll tell you one thing it doesn't mean: It doesn't mean that the law can't change. ... It doesn't mean just law and order, or rigorous enforcement of the law, no matter what the law is," he said. "That's 'rule by law,' that's what that is. ... And there's rule by law in every repressive country in the world."
He continued: "The U.S. immigration system, while strong and while just in many respects, likewise fails to meet this standard in important ways. ... Congress wants to restore the rule of law through enforcement alone. It can't be done. ... The bishops and you all want to restore the law by also reforming the legal immigration system and by legalizing deserving U.S. residents. That can be done."
A common criticism from the conference was the decision for the federal government to pursue enforcement before reform, which is not fixing the problem, many said.
Laura Olson of Homeland Security's Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties described what the office does and went further into Secure Communities, laying out some of the office's work in that area, including awareness briefings and reviewing complaints of rights violations. Secure Communities is a federal program that allows the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to share fingerprint information obtained from local authorities to check the immigration status of those arrested for criminal offenses and booked in jail.
Concerns about Secure Communities arise because, for one reason people noted, immigrants tend not to report crimes they witness or are victims of for fear of being deported, even if they themselves have not committed a criminal offense. Olson encouraged conference attendees to contact her with concerns.
Government representatives, such as John Sandweg, special counselor to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, answered questions and concerns from people on government programs, as well as describing the current progress the administration is working on regarding immigration.
Salt Lake City Bishop John C. Wester gave the keynote address Wednesday night after Mass to kick off the conference. Wester, a former chairman of the Committee on Migration at the bishops' conference, signed the Utah Compact, a letter drafted by business, civic and religious leaders, including Wester, stating principles to guide comprehensive immigration reform. One principle is that immigration is a federal issue, not a state one, so the federal government needs to take action.
"It is clear that Congress will not act on this issue unless a strong national consensus emerges, where the majority of Americans agree on a path forward and communicate that to their federal, elected officials," Wester said in the keynote. "The only way that will happen is if the American people are educated on the issues and the realities of immigration, and that can only occur if the issue is right in front of them, being debated in their local communities."
Some 250 people -- a mix of state Catholic conference directors, Hispanic ministry directors, Catholic Charities immigration attorneys, leaders of the Mormon church and others -- attended the conference.
Apolonio Morales from Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action, which works with the Oakland, Calif., diocese and the bishops' Justice for Immigrants campaign, told NCR the strategies from the workshops and presentations would aid his work.
The strategies, he said, were "tangible things to bring back home in an environment that seems really, really difficult. These conversations are hard, but they're necessary. It's what we're called to do." Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action is part of the faith-based community-organizing network PICO.
"What was very helpful was being introduced to the Utah Compact and also hearing what was going on in Iowa," said Fr. Shawn O'Neal, contact person for the Justice for Immigrants campaign in the Charlotte, N.C., diocese.
Business, law enforcement and religious leaders in Iowa recently drafted a compact similar to Utah's.
About the Utah Compact, O'Neal said, "It's a good model for many other states to have. I mention this because I'm from North Carolina and we have legislation which will be considered over the next couple of months."
In 2011, more than 1,600 bills and resolutions addressing immigration and refugees were introduced, and as of early December, 197 laws were enacted, 109 new resolutions were adopted, and 15 bills were vetoed, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures website. In 2005 there were 300 bills introduced, 39 laws enacted and six vetoed.
[Zoe Ryan is an NCR staff writer. Her email address is zryan@ncronline.org.]
First of all,I appreciate the
First of all,I appreciate the fact that so many organisations are getting involved.However,I have been in this country for more than eleven years and have been trying deligently to adjust my status.I honestly believed I followed the guidelines only to be told that I missed the bus on the extension of 245I.What am I to do now after spending thousands of dollars to an attorney who now tells me he can't help any more.I chose to do this the right way and now I'm being penalized for this.All congress has to do is give the 245i extension and a lot of us in immigration limbo will be helped.I believe living in daily fear of being deported is being at the back of the line.
Hear your problem bro, the
Hear your problem bro, the issue is that our politicians haven't finished playing their games yet. Hopefully your prayers get answered soon.
I am ok with legal
I am ok with legal immigration--even on the basis of work permits. I am NOT ok with illegal aliens who are disproportionately represented in hospital ERs as free patients,on the food stamps rolls and in our prisons. The unemployment rate is 1/2 the US rate in Mexico. Interestingly, the 2.1/woman fecundity rate in Mexico is a sign that they are getting their act together South of the Border. So, I am not at all cool about granting illegals legal status under some sort of "immigration reform" banner. Going home is a good idea and our economy needs it to happen.
I don't know what or who your
I don't know what or who your sources of information are but I can assure you they are wrong... Illegal immigrants are NOT disproportionately utilizing ERs and food stamps,or commiting crimes.This sounds like a Newt tirade.And Mexico has half the unemployment rate as the US??? Wow, are you reading the wrong website.
http://www.tradingeconomics.c
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/mexico/unemployment-rate
Actually, Mexico's unemployment rate is 5%, so I did exaggerate that a bit.
On the ERs:
http://thenewamerican.com/usnews/immigration/6451-illegal-immigrants-ove...
All talk and no action makes
All talk and no action makes absolutely no sense at all for either us or the illegals. We've been ranting about the issue since the Regan era which is like a quarter century since the last reform took place. Call it Amnesty or whatever you'd like to, the truth is, the longer we take to bring about some common sense humane enforcement/reform, we can carry on another 25 years supporting and living with and amongst the illegals. Maybe some of them are even terrorist.
It doesn't do us any good to have the so called 11 million undocumented live in the shadows and work on stolen SSN's, drive without valid ID's or insurance, have no medical insurance and be a part of society that has to work it's way around the system just because they don't have a legal document. We've got to think that if we bring these people onto the books, we will increase our tax revenue(back, present & future), generate thousands of jobs for us to register and process all of them, generate revenue from fines, fees and renewals. All the same we have lived with them all this thime, so the do nothing approach is doesn't make any real sense. Yes, their status can be conditional based on their past and their criminal background.
I tell you, I have seen Bush, McCain, Graham, Menendez, Gutierrez, Obama and almost all politicians only talk alot about the issue. The truth is that they just want to prolong it as long as they can so their seats in office are secured. The all talk no action (pro & Anti), gives people (pro & anti) hopes that something is in the works and that they are enforcing the law or reform is about to happen soon.
As I've said, this present congress doesn't do what it's supposed to while they still get paid by us tax payers to simply do nothing.
Wow, I am almost ready to
Wow, I am almost ready to rescind my disregard for the USCCB! Sounds like this subcommittee has taken action, has shown leadership, and is not afraid to tackle a difficult issue involving social justice issues. Whoopee!!! Seriously I am truly proud to see this!
Now if only they (USCCB) would also tackle some of the other issues facing Catholicism and the World today - Ordination of women, Value of life, Ecumenism, Peace and Living as "World Community", Treatment of Gays and Lesbians.
Actually over the years the
Actually over the years the USCCB has done a pretty good job (discounting their latest backing down on this year's election guidance) providing teachings on all sort of subjects.
The problem is that nearly all US Cardinals/Bishops ignore their own documents.
When was the last time your bishop sent down a pastoral letter or made comments in the local diocesan newspaper clearly stating the full teaching of the Church about the death penalty?
How many of them condemned Notre Dame for having President Obama as a commencement speaker but were silent when President Bush attacked a sovereign nation - despite the very clear statements by Pope JPII that to do so violated all Just War teachings?
Yes abortion does kill many millions but their silence concerning Iraq materially contributed in the death, injury or displacement of +2.5 million innocent women and children.
One might be caused to think that that they seem to consider some 'innocent' lives more important than other lives.
How many bishops allow the people working for them form unions?
But the Bishops are not the (only) ones to blame in the same way that politicians are not the ones to blame.
We allow these things to happen by indifference and in the case of politicians either not voting or voting a straight party ticket --- and especially when we are silent when laws are made which limits our ability to be able to vote.
"We have met the enemy and he is us."
Thank you, Father McBrien,
Thank you, Father McBrien, for being such a beacon of hope. However, I suggest that you need to be thinking in a more positive vein than relying totally on Vatican II. Yes, it may be our source document for what we believe the future of the Church should be. But we need to formulate a strategy for the future, based on what the Vatican II counselled us to do, but structured on a positive and forward-looking plan for the Church's future (if there is ever to be a future).
I was at a parish meeting tonight. One called by our pastor, inviting all ministers, lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Aramathians, homebound ministers, etc. A force of a couple of hundred or more people. And we were told it was important. About 60 or 70 attended. Turned out, it was a waste of time. It was about Evangelization. I left after the first break. During the pastor's prologue, he talked about how invested the Archdiocese was in getting "fallen" Catholics back to the regular practice of their faith. I walked out, because the evening was based on a series of meetings given by a Paulist priest that I attended back in the '90s that I found baseless and without direction.
What "evangelization" means for conservative Catholics is trying to imbue in the so-called "fallen" Catholics a sense of the old guilt-trip, faith-without-question, the "royal" priesthood, etc. tenets of faith that reasonable Catholics gave up long ago. Some of use stayed to try to work within the system to set these misguided tenets into a modern perspective. But, as you well know, it's an uphill fight. Conservatives continue to fight to stuff the genie back in the bottle.
What the meeting this evening failed to do was to point out specific directives, a positive direction, a challenge, for attendants to provide objections, suggestions and considerations. They were simply divided into groups and told to find better ways we can bring Catholics that show up only at Christmas and Easter to return to the Catholicism they practiced when they attended Catholic grade school. Good Luck!
Immigration issues are but one of the issues we 'progressive" Catholics have to fight. But we also have to fight for ourselves. We need to establish a separate identity and a separate mission, even at the risk of being called heretics by the troglodytes in the Vatican. My wife and I are proud to be Catholics, but we profoundly dislike the leadership of our Church, and we feel like we hang on to our faith by our fingernails. You are one of our few beacons of hope! Please help us to hang on and keep the Faith.
Worry poor. ECONOMICS will
Worry poor. ECONOMICS will eventually trump POLITICS, so religious leaders and groups are but window dressing and not real players at this table. Alabama and Georgia have had a tough go getting the crops in after "deputizing" public school officials into Immigration control and frightening migrant children out of their classrooms!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/after-immigration-crackdown-ga-an...
That's what they get for listening to the BIBLE-THUMPERS on both sides of the table:
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120118/NEWS06/301180079/Bible-used-fight-defend-Alabama-immigration-law?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News%20Nation%20&%20World|s
To stop President Obama and
To stop President Obama and his Liberal progressive Czars as Eric Holder, the only avenue is to elect strict TEA PARTY Constitutionalists in oncoming federal and state elections. There are two points to remember that entering the United States has been intentionally classed by Congress as a civil matter? That it is not classified as a Felony; as it should be? Although being hired for a job or using a stolen ID or another person’s Social Security card can be prosecuted as a felony, as they have committed two crimes. The Tea Party will rescind any covert amnesties, sanctuary city ordinances, chain migration, dream act, and additionally overhaul federal spending. Become acquainted NumbersUSA and learn about the billions of dollars taken from taxpayers in unfunded mandates by pandering to illegal aliens. This is labeled as a “Backdoor Amnesty.” Washington must enact ‘The Legal Workforce Act ‘Known more commonly as Mandated E-Verify. Plus “The Birthright Citizenship Act” to stop the inducement of bring unborn infants into the country, that provides free welfare, education and health care. WE THE PEOPLE’S Constitution is under siege by the resident government and must be stopped, when they are allowing illegal aliens back on the streets. BE WARNED THAT NON-CITIZENS HAVE BEEN VOTING AND CERTAINLY WILL AGAIN IN FUTURE ELECTIONS.
Are not 11 millions illegals
Are not 11 millions illegals in US ,many mexicans go in mexico , because had not work , and many did not speak engl. Somebody said me he knows many mexicans that they go from here .
Even shall be an amnesty , a law can to limit many illegals , if they have 8 years in US and clean past report , incometax for each year , and a tax of 3 or $4000 to pay to Government for amnesty , and no more need attorney .
Each one to make proof of his situation and to be verified .
So a low shall solve the situation , and after that to deport .
In US never stop mexicans to come . They come and go back themselves.
In this case will remain 15 or 20% because many do not want to pay .
Now if they are in US , who they live ?
They are not fear that are without jobs ? Why americans have fear ?
When you want to decide for you , you will use the mind ,but when you want to decide for others must use the heart
Not with hate and angry , but with wisdom.
Are not 11 millions illegals
Are not 11 millions illegals in US ,many mexicans go in mexico , because had not work , and many did not speak engl. Somebody said me he knows many mexicans that they go from here .
Even shall be an amnesty , a law can to limit many illegals , if they have 8 years in US and clean past report , incometax for each year , and a tax of 3 or $4000 to pay to Government for amnesty , and no more need attorney .
Each one to make proof of his situation and to be verified .
So a low shall solve the situation , and after that to deport .
In US never stop mexicans to come . They come and go back themselves.
In this case will remain 15 or 20% because many do not want to pay .
Now if they are in US , who they live ?
They are not fear that are without jobs ? Why americans have fear ?
When you want to decide for you , you will use the mind ,but when you want to decide for others must use the heart
Not with hate and angry , but with wisdom.
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