Washington D.C., Apr 17, 2009 / 02:03 am
The U.S. Conference of Bishops released a statement today asking President Obama to consider that “migrants are not responsible for the drug violence” on the border. Bishop Wester said that “criminals, smugglers, corrupt officials and drug and arms dealers on both sides” of the border are the cause of violence, not those seeking jobs in the United States.
President Obama who was in Mexico for less than 24 hours, met with Mexican President Felipe Calderón to discuss the increasing drug and border violence.
Border violence has escalated in the past several months as feuding drug lords have stepped up their attacks. During the last two years, over 10,000 murders have been attributed to drug-related violence.
John C. Wester, the Bishop of Salt Lake City and the chairman of the U.S. Bishops Committee on Migration, said, “Immigration is not simply a domestic issue, but also one of foreign affairs.”