By IANS,
Washington : The US religious leaders have launched a campaign to urge President Barak Obama’s administration to reform its immigration policy that “works against family values” and “deprives protection to foreign workers.”
A coalition of religious leaders and members of the Congress has urged the new US administration to make the immigration reform a priority, EFE reported.
Two Democratic lawmakers said at a press conference Wednesday that they had proof of the social problems the current immigration laws are causing.
California congressman Mike Honda urged Obama to fulfill his promise to make immigration reform a priority. The US president said earlier that the current system is “broken” and “doesn’t work for anyone”.
Congressman Luis Gutierrez said the law works against “family values” and deprives protection to immigrant workers” who are the most vulnerable sections of the society.
Bishop Minerva Carcano of the United Methodist Church, said recommendations of the coalition had been sent to the Congress for consideration when it starts working on the reform.
“It’s necessary to make the family unit a priority and favour the reunification of families. There are too many cases where parents, children and siblings are separated indefinitely by visa problems,” she said.
Therefore, “creating a process so that immigrants have the opportunity to gain citizenship status and protection was vital.
“We have to draft the reform keeping in mind at all times the respect for human and civil rights,” Carcano said. She added that it was a “mistake” to exclude immigrants from the debate on the new economic stimulus plan.
“They pay taxes and contribute to the economy. We have to stop seeing them as a problem when they are part of the solution,” she said.
Before making its request to the US Congress, the coalition received the advice of lawmakers, the national budget office, universities and the Pew Hispanic Centre, Caracno said.
The coalition said it would involve more communities from all religious denominations to join the campaign and begin its activities during the congressional recess this month.