Immigration Reform
Goal: Support Federal and State Immigration Reform legislation
2010 Outcome: Representative Drazkowski and several other representatives in the House minority introduced a bill based on the recent immigration legislation signed into law in Arizona. The Arizona bill, opposed by the United States Catholic Bishops, is the most aggressive anti-immigrant legislation passed in recent memory. If enacted in Minnesota, it would increase racial profiling and harassment and further push undocumented immigrants into the shadows of society.
Law enforcement agencies, religious organizations, city leaders, legal advocates, immigrant rights groups and the Star Tribune editorial board came out strongly against Rep. Drazkowski’s bill. Thankfully, as time was short, elements of this legislation were not attached as amendments to final bills this session. We intend to defeat the full package if introduced during the 2011 legislative session.
Background: The Hispanic Pew Forum estimates that at least twelve million undocumented immigrants live and work in the United States today. Immigrants risk unauthorized entry into the United States for many different reasons, but most hope to reunite with family members already here or find work to support their family back home.
The existing immigration system has resulted in a growing number of people in this country in an unauthorized capacity, living in the shadows as they toil in jobs that would otherwise go unfilled.
The Catholic Church believes that current immigration laws and policies undermine human dignity, keep families apart and force immigrant communities into isolation. The Catholic bishops of the United States strongly support comprehensive immigration reform, which includes:
- Broad based legalization (permanent residency) of undocumented residents of the United States
- A family-based immigration system that allows family members to reunite with loved ones in the United States
- A fair employment-based immigration system that provides legal pathways for migrants to come and work in a safe, humane and orderly manner
- Restoration of due process protections for immigrants
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