Catholic bishops oppose new Arizona immigration law
A controversial Arizona law designed to stem the tide of illegal immigration from Mexico is being challenged by the state's Roman Catholic bishops, who are campaigning vigorously to have the legislation scrapped, citing concerns over public safety, racial profiling and the break-up of immigrant families.
The Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act was passed by the Arizona state legislature and signed into law by Governor Jan Brewer in April. When the law comes into force in July, local and state law enforcement officers will be required to ascertain the immigration status of any person with whom they come into legal contact, if they suspect that individual of being an undocumented immigrant.
Meanwhile, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has warned that the new law "gives law enforcement officials powers to detain and arrest individuals based on a very low legal standard, possibly leading to the profiling of individuals based upon their appearance, manner of speaking or ethnicity."
According to the Bishops of the Arizona Catholic Conference, which includes the dioceses of Tucson, Phoenix and Gallup, the legislation makes Arizona "the first state in the nation to codify its own illegal immigration law by requiring persons who are here unlawfully in terms of federal law to be charged with trespassing under Arizona law."
Speaking out
Gerald K. Kicanas, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tucson, told ChristianWeek that the immigration law is the result of "a deep frustration with our experience in Arizona." He points out that immigration law falls within federal jurisdiction, but laments Washington's failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation.
However, Kicanas says he does not support illegal immigration. "It is not good for our country not to know who is crossing its border," he says.
It is estimated that 12 million undocumented immigrants currently reside illegally in the U.S. Arizona is the major entry point for illegal migrants, alarming many of the Grand Canyon state's citizens. In addition, the spill over of drug-related violence from Mexico into Arizona has bolstered local support for the state's crackdown on illegal immigration.
So, why have Kicanas and the other bishops spoken out against the new immigration legislation?
"We thought it was necessary to speak out against the new law for the same reason we have been calling for our federal government to pass comprehensive immigration reform to fix the broken system of immigration," says Kicanas. "People are dying in our desert; people are being exploited because they feel they have no choice but to leave their home nations; people are relegated to live in the shadows because they seek to provide for their families."
Public safety and family break-up
The Arizona bishops worry that the new law "does not clearly state that undocumented persons who become victims of crime can come forward without fear of deportation." Discouraging the reporting of crimes, reads a statement issued by the bishops, "will only keep dangerous criminals on the streets, making our communities less safe."
Kicanas is also concerned that "the new Arizona law, if implemented, could lead to the break-up of families, which is a serious moral concern."
"Many children come to this country at a very young age and know no other country than ours," says Robert DeFrancesco, director of communications for the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix. "Additionally, there are numerous cases in almost any parish where one spouse is in the country legally and the other is not," he says. "In both cases, the bishops are especially concerned that these individuals can now be considered criminals."
The Diocese of Phoenix provides immigration-related information to immigrant parishioners, says DeFrancesco. The diocese also refers newcomers to community organizations and legal resources.
"The programs of our parishes that offer assistance in many forms—food, clothing, daycare, English as a second language—are offered without consideration of a person's citizenship or ability to provide documentation of citizenship," Kicanas says of the Diocese of Tucson's ministry.
Despite the hardening of the U.S.-Mexico border, Christians on either side of the international boundary are coming together. The Catholic dioceses of Tucson and Phoenix have joined with the Diocese of Hermosillo, Mexico in the Dioceses Without Borders campaign, says Joanne Welter, director of social mission for the Diocese of Tucson. She explains that the campaign promotes Christian solidarity and "helps us all understand that we are one Church in America."
Indeed, the current immigration controversy reminds Christians that faith and charity transcend national borders.
Geoffrey P. Johnston is an independent journalist based in eastern Ontario.
Elsewhere in ChristianWeek: The Kino Border Initiative cares for Mexican deportees.
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