Immigration system not repaired with fence, Catholic Charities president says
From Catholic Online

ALEXANDRIA, VA, Oct. 31, 2006 (www.catholic.org)   –   The erection of 700 miles of a fence between the United States and Mexico is no solution to a broken immigration system that needs immediate repair, said the head of Catholic Charities USA.

U.S. President George W. Bush signed H.R. 6061, the Secure Fence Act of 2006, in a public ceremonies at the White House Oct. 26, which authorizes the building of 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexican border.

In an Oct. 27 statement, Father Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, called on Bush and the U.S. Congress to finish the job by acting swiftly to enact just and fair comprehensive immigration reform.

“Catholic Charities USA and its members call on the president to provide swift and immediate leadership to ensure that the next step results in just and fair immigration reform,” he said.

Noting the disappointment that “enforcement-only is the only piece of immigration reform was made into law” during this midterm election year, the Catholic agency representing more than 1,700 local charities organizations and institutions throughout the United States said it will continue to press the administration and Congress to enact “comprehensive reform.”

Catholic Charities USA urged that “this enforcement-only strategy does not stand alone as a solution to a broken system.”

“We are counting on your leadership and commitment to reform immigration laws so they are comprehensive and balanced providing both national security and a system putting immigrants on a pathway to citizenship,” Father Snyder said.