Catholics complain to feds about immigration raids

[peejay 327]

Catholics complain to feds about immigration raids

ICE leader defends government crackdown that religious groups say inflict unnecessary harm

By STEWART M. POWELL

2008 Houston Chronicle

July 29, 2008, 10:51PM

WASHINGTON — The official leading the Bush administration's election-year crackdown on undocumented immigrants got an earful Tuesday from immigrant advocates tied to the Roman Catholic Church who dubbed the effort "enforcement only."

Julie L. Myers, assistant secretary of homeland security in charge of immigration and customs enforcement, defended a nine-month campaign that has detained about 4,500 undocumented workers, 111 employers and more than 26,000 illegal immigrants who defied judges' orders to leave the country.

"I certainly understand that there are many people who do not like the immigration laws created by Congress — not created by this agency but created by Congress," Myers declared. Myers responded to complaints that some mothers had been separated from nursing babies in violation of the policy of her agency — Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Congress, she said, did not make an exception for undocumented workers who became parents while living in the U.S. illegally.

"Congress could do that — but they have not," she said.

Many participants at a three-day conference convened by the Conference of Roman Catholic Bishops and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network criticized the administration's hard-hitting approach.

The stepped-up enforcement policy was adopted after Congress failed last year to enact a blend of border enforcement and a pathway to legalization for some 12 million illegal immigrants.

The Bush administration contends it must strengthen enforcement to win back public confidence and set the stage for a more balanced approach.

Donald M. Kerwin, executive director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network that serves 600,000 clients each year, told Myers that participants at the conference were concerned that "these large-scale enforcement actions that often involve hundreds of law enforcement people" are inflicting unnecessary harm on immigrants.

The organizations provide housing, food and day care to the families of arrested immigrants and legal counsel to those facing deportation. Many immigrants picked up in the raids are Roman Catholics originally from Mexico and Central America, prompting their families in the United States to turn to local parishes for help.

The Houston area has seen immigration raids, including operations at Shipley Do-Nuts and Action Rags USA.

"Everybody champions immigration reform," said Kerwin, whose organization supports a national network of 173 charitable legal programs for immigrants in nearly 270 locations. "It seems like it is enforcement only right now."

In a subsequent interview with the Houston Chronicle, Kerwin likened the raids' impact to damage from a hurricane.

"Our programs are seeing families divided and communities devastated," he said. "Basically we're seeing the equivalent of a natural disaster, and we're organizing and responding accordingly."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headli...on/5914374.html

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

too bad

[Ban Hammer 14,283]

surprising, the anti-church crowd is silent on this one.........

[S and S 12]

I don't have sympathy when I have to wait soooo long to be with my husband yet these people think they can cheat the system rather than doing things the right way. If they want rights then they should pay the proper fees and do the right paperwork. Why should we be punished with these long waits for doing the right thing while others just go the illegal route. Then they think this country owes them something!

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

ahhh yes... just feel the love around here.

you all have a very nice life now.

Carry on folks. Nothing new here.

Daniel

[justashooter 430]

ahhh yes... just feel the love around here.

you all have a very nice life now.

Carry on folks. Nothing new here.

Daniel

I am sure you would have no love for someone who steals your car, burns your house, or shoots you. These are all crimes, just like unlawful entry. All felonies, every one. No matter where a person is from, if they enter illegally, they are a felony criminal.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

[Chica Yeyé 41]

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

double latte, please? non-fat with little foam. kthxbai.

[Sister Fracas 5]

Donald M. Kerwin, executive director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network that serves 600,000 clients each year, told Myers that participants at the conference were concerned that "these large-scale enforcement actions that often involve hundreds of law enforcement people" are inflicting unnecessary harm on immigrants.

I believe he's probably right.

ahhh yes... just feel the love around here.

you all have a very nice life now.

Carry on folks. Nothing new here.

Daniel

Hiya Daniel!!!

surprising, the anti-church crowd is silent on this one.........

darn...there's an anti-church group and I didn't know about it????

must.go.find....

Edited December 8, 2008 by Sister Fracas

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

Let me have a 5-dollar turkey breast foot-long sandwich please?

Everything but onions and olives and some of that tasty southwest sauce of yours

Thanksss

P.S. what's the point to resurrect this article?

Edited December 8, 2008 by TävôLuDô

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Let me have a 5-dollar turkey breast foot-long sandwich please?

Everything but onions and olives and some of that tasty southwest sauce of yours

Thanksss

Sorry, this is not Subway.

[Sister Fracas 5]

Let me have a 5-dollar turkey breast foot-long sandwich please?

Everything but onions and olives and some of that tasty southwest sauce of yours

Thanksss

Sorry, this is not Subway.

shoot... I was just about to put in an order for a 6 inch tuna on whole wheat... mmmm, sammich

[HAL 9000 96]

Let me have a 5-dollar turkey breast foot-long sandwich please?

Everything but onions and olives and some of that tasty southwest sauce of yours

Thanksss

P.S. date on this article: "July 29, 2008, 10:51PM"

What's up? running out of anti-immigration articles that you have to go back 5 months to find one???

AJ did it.

As for me make that a meatball sub on Italian bread with extra hot peppers. Need something to finish off the cold I got.

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

Let me have a 5-dollar turkey breast foot-long sandwich please?

Everything but onions and olives and some of that tasty southwest sauce of yours

Thanksss

Sorry, this is not Subway.

Damn it, is this quiznos?

[sara..... 371]

after waiting this long and still no noa2 i dont have any sympathy for those that got here illegally or the raids to find them.....im sorry about the conditions in their country that brought them here but still all illegal activity to get to the usa is what makes some of us go thru purgatory for a real relationship trying to do it the RIGHT way

sara