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from March 26, 2006
Making the Right Repairs to a Broken Immigration System
 

Proposed Immigration Laws Called 'Harsh' by Archbishop

Hundreds of members of the Hispanic community gathered at the State Capitol recently in
opposition to proposed immigration legislation. Sooner Catholic Photo/ Mauro Yanez  

By Ray Dyer
The Sooner Catholic

OKLAHOMA CITY — Legislation proposed by some state lawmakers was described by Archbishop Eusebius Beltran as "harsh" and would only further complicate an already unfair immigration system in desperate need of comprehensive reform. The archbishop made the comments during a March 21 news conference at the Catholic Pastoral Center. English and Spanish media representatives attended the conference.

In particular the bishops oppose SB 1769 which calls for the establishment of an immigration division within the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. The bill, by Sen. Kenneth Corn, would have the OSBI investigate illegal immigration in the state. Archbishop Beltran said immigration is a federal issue and making it a "state or local matter" would be a mistake. He said the Catholic Church fully recognizes "the rights of every sovereign state to protect its borders", but added the Church views equally important the rights of an individual to migrate.  How the United States protects its borders is important, the archbishop said, but equally important, is how the U.S. greets those who come to its borders.

"Basically were holding to the belief that every human person is important and must be respected and must be helped," Archbishop Beltran said.

Making local police an immigration "watchdog", Archbishop Beltran said, would undermine the good work and relationships that have been built between police departments and the various immigrant communities, especially the Hispanic community.  Father Edward J. Weisenburger, pastor of The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Vicar General of the Archdiocese, said the proposed legislation is based on "fear, racism and misinformation."

For several years, Archbishop Beltran said,  U.S. Catholic Bishops have called on Congress to enact comprehensive immigration reforms based on "truth, justice and compassion." He told a reporter the McCain/Kennedy Amendment Congress is expected to consider is good federal legislation. The proposal would put undocumented workers and  Archbishop Beltran at his press conference
their families on the path to lawful permanent residence and citizenship.

Also opposed at the state level is HB 3119 by Rep. Randy Terrill. The legislation would require all government workers to report any person seeking benefits or services who failed to provide proof of lawful presence in the United States.

Shirley Cox, Legislative advocate for Catholic Charities of Oklahoma City, said the proposed legislation would discourage non-citizens from seeking any public help, including medical assistance for family members who are legal citizens of the U.S., namely children.

"This proposed legislation would deprive undocumented people the benefits of living in the U.S.," Cox said. "At the same time, we're more than willing to accept their labor and their taxes."

Archbishop Beltran, in response to a reporter who asked if he feared immigration reforms could lead to a loss of federal funds for "Catholic organizations" said "from my own perspective as a bishop for 28 years I've never relied on federal dollars and I've never obtained them, except a very minimal amount for some works of Catholic Charities…less than 1 percent of our budget, ever."