“More than 75 percent of the Catholic agencies that attended a workshop on raids at our national Catholic gathering on immigration in July and August of this year have been involved in raid-response work,” he said.
Addressing the press conference, Bishop of Las Cruces Ricardo Ramirez described the recent raids in Roswell, New Mexico and raised concerns that local police officers are enforcing federal law.
The bishop explained that he is “very impressed” with the training for federal agents trained to enforce immigration law, saying “They already know the Spanish language, they know immigration law, and know how to treat people in humane way.”
However, he commented, local police are often not trained so thoroughly or effectively.
Bishop of Orlando Thomas Wenski, noting national security concerns are often cited in the immigration debate, asked whether targeting “people working in meatpacking plants” is the “best use of scarce resources on the part of government.”
During the press conference all the bishops endorsed “comprehensive immigration reform.”
Replying to a question about the timing of the press conference and whether the bishops wanted to make immigration an election issue, the bishops noted that the raids are an ongoing issue. However, they said their statements would be sent both to the McCain and Obama campaigns.
Asked about allegations that the U.S. bishops are using immigration to fill emptying pews, one bishop said, “Our concern is about people of all faith[s]. Our perspective is a humanitarian perspective, for all individuals seeking a better way of living for themselves.”
Another speaker responded that “the reality is that people are already here… we’re just responding out of human need.”
“We don’t ask people their religion, we just serve them,” he added.
One topic of discussion concerned women left unattended at the Arizona border after being deported. These women are reportedly expected to cross the Sonora Desert by themselves despite the dangers, which include rape.
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Speakers characterized anti-illegal immigration activists as a “vocal minority” and said most Americans support or can be persuaded to support immigration reform. Some argued that the U.S. is close to historic levels of employment and claimed that immigrants, rather than suppress the job market, actually stimulate the economy.
Explaining the motives of the U.S. bishops, Bishop Wester said they hope to “reframe the question,” correct false information, and emphasize the complexities of immigration problems.
Bishop Ramirez asked the press to show the “human face” of immigrants.
He explained that in one New Mexico town, media coverage helped stop raids where the police were going into the schools and “intimidating children” of illegal immigrants. This police action made their parents afraid to send their children to school or shop for groceries until the people affected by such action received media attention.
“That human face really made a difference, and the raids stopped,” the bishop said.