The U.S. Senate is expected to take up immigration reform proposals in early March.  The recently passed House version of "immigration reform", H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005, criminalizes undocumented immigrants and focuses solely on enforcement measures.  H.R. 4437 falls well short of the overhaul of the U.S. immigration system recommended by the U.S. and Mexican Catholic bishops in their joint pastoral letter entitled Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope.

The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act (S.1033), introduced by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), provides a comprehensive approach to solving the ills of the current system.  S. 1033 provides the first 5 years of funding for a security plan that would defend the border against threats to security and illegal transit.  Unlike the House bill, it also provides avenues for migrant workers to legally enter the U.S.  Additionally, it allows immigrants in the U.S. to work towards permanent residency and includes more visas for family reunification.

Your Senators need to know that the enforcement-only approach will not provide a solution to the immigration problems in our country today.  Please urge them to support S. 1033 as a real first step to providing security to our borders and respecting the human dignity of immigrants.  Click here to contact your U.S. Senators.