Immigration reform: a social and moral challenge

The issue of immigration reform poses a thorny public-policy problem for America with significant and sometimes conflicting economic, legal, social and national-security interests at stake. It also presents people of faith with a moral challenge.

Congress is currently considering starkly differing approaches to immigration reform, and virtually everyone agrees that the current system of laws governing this complex issue is broken. That is where consensus breaks down.

With more and more immigrants crossing the shared border between the U.S. and Mexico, Americans are confronting a public-policy dilemma with a clear moral dimension. While insisting on our right to establish laws governing immigration, we also are obliged to acknowledge that these policies have a tangible effect on the basic dignity of people with whom we share not only a common border, but a common humanity.

As the immigration-reform debate develops, we do not minimize our country's right as a sovereign nation to secure its borders, especially as we face the threat of terrorism. For people of faith, however, there is an unmistakable obligation to care for people in need regardless of their legal status.

This does not imply support for illegal immigration, but as a nation we must move toward a legal process that allows migrant workers to enter our country in an orderly manner as well as opportunities for permanent, legal residency and reunification of separated families. We also must unconditionally oppose anti-immigrant sentiment and denial of immigrants' basic rights as human beings.

When we consider immigrants as members of the human family, it becomes clear that immigration reform is not exclusively an issue of enforcement. Today's immigrants, like those of past eras, enrich our communities with their deep family values. They also provide material benefit to the economy because of their work ethic.

Because many immigrants leave their homes out of necessity, we must be willing to consider solutions that address the poverty at the root of immigration. It also should lead us to uphold legal due process for immigrants in the spirit of "liberty for all."

From a moral perspective, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 currently before Congress must be amended to reflect a truly comprehensive approach to immigration reform including: a legalization process, a temporary-worker program that provides a step toward citizenship, and decriminalization of the immigrants and those who help them.

An amended version of the legislation that includes these components would best reflect the moral principles U.S. and Mexican bishops set forth in our joint document, "Strangers No Longer." Conversely, legislation that relies heavily on punitive measures toward undocumented immigrants and those who choose to help must be opposed.

As the spiritual leader of nearly 1 million Catholics in Western Washington, I call upon all people of good will to increase their awareness of immigration issues and to challenge public officials to act in the best tradition of America as we welcome this new wave of immigrants. Above all, we must act out of compassion for the stranger among us.

The Archdiocese of Seattle has a long tradition of hospitality and outreach to immigrant populations. Our parishes, health-care facilities and social agencies will respond to the needs of all persons in a manner consistent with that tradition, which is based on our teaching and belief.

When people are hungry and naked, our parishes and people will feed and clothe them without asking for documentation. When families need assistance, housing or health care, our agencies and hospitals will shelter them and care for them without concern for their legal status.

And as Congress debates the complex policy issues related to immigration reform, we will respond to the moral challenge by extending the loving heart and helping hand of the church to the strangers in our midst so that they may be strangers no longer.