Washington D.C., Apr 24, 2012 / 17:04 pm
As the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on a controversial Arizona immigration law, the bishops' leader on migration issues criticized the legislation for failing to respect human dignity.
The court's decision in Arizona v. United States “will mark a critical juncture in our nation’s immigration history,” said Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, chair of the U.S. bishops' migration committee.
In an April 24 Washington Post article, the archbishop called for a single unified approach to immigration for the whole country rather than “a patchwork of 50 state immigration policies” that poses a threat to family unity and human dignity.
On April 25, the Supreme Court heard arguments in both support and opposition of a 2010 Arizona law that requires foreigners in the state to carry registration documents and imposes strict penalties on those who hire, shelter or transport illegal immigrants.