Immigration

WASHINGTON – President Bush has not been hindered by heavy criticism of an immigration bill that would legalize millions of unlawful immigrants. Instead, he pressed harder for its support on Friday ahead of his departure for the Group of Eight summit on industrialized nations next week.

Conservatives and liberals, activists and analysts have all had their say on what is wrong with the comprehensive immigration bill before the Senate. Yet Bush remains steadfast in his conviction that despite its weaknesses the bill is still worth passing.

“No matter how difficult it may seem for some politically, I strongly believe it’s in this nation’s interest for people here in Washington to show courage and resolve and pass a comprehensive immigration reform,” Bush said on Friday, according to The Associated Press. more >>

WASHINGTON – Evangelicals have voiced concern over the contentious immigration reform bill that has provoked an onslaught of opposition and bitter debate throughout the nation.

Before the House of Representatives subcommittee, an evangelical representative reminded Congress that a truly comprehensive immigration bill needs to foster the maintenance of the immigrant family unit.

“We have seen the consequences of a broken system that has separated families for many years,” warned Dan Kosten of the evangelical agency World Relief, before the House subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law, on Tuesday. more >>

WASHINGTON – A storm of debates has ensued the introduction of a comprehensive immigration reform bill which the Senate began tackling Monday.

The bill, drawn up by a bipartisan group of senators and White House negotiators, offers a process for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants currently in the country to work legally through a combination of fines, criminal background investigation, English proficiency tests, and paperwork.

“This legislation includes all the elements required for comprehensive immigration reform. It will improve security at our borders,” said President Bush during the White House radio address on Saturday. “It will create a temporary worker program. It will help us resolve the status of millions of illegal immigrants who are here already, without animosity and without amnesty. more >>

WASHINGTON – Evangelical leaders launched an ecumenical national grassroots and ad campaign on Monday advocating for comprehensive immigration reform.

The campaign, under the title of Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CCIR), plans to run ads nationally and locally in newspapers and mobilize at least 200,000 letters, tens of thousands of calls, and hundreds of lobby visits to Members of Congress by the August recess to demonstrate support for immigration laws that would both protect the U.S. borders yet provide a way for immigrants already in the States to gain legal status.

"We are coming together today because the Bible tells us again and again about the need to care for the stranger in our midst," said Jim Wallis, founder and president of the social justice group Sojourners. “Compassionate immigration reform is also a critical step toward eradicating poverty in America." more >>

WASHINGTON – President Bush held discussions on immigration with clergy in Washington Thursday and said he’s looking forward to working with both Democrats and Republicans to get a comprehensive immigration bill done this year.

“Immigration helps renew our soul. It helps redefine our spirit in a positive way,” he said during the meeting on immigration and assimilation at Asamblea de Iglesias Cristianas (the Assembly of Christian Churches) in Washington.

Reiterating a comment he made recently at Miami Dade College in Florida, Bush said the 11 or 12 million illegal immigrants who are already in the United States need to be treated with amnesty, and not with animosity. more >>