Contact your legislators today about immigration reform

Intermountain Catholic

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As you know, the United States Senate is considering SB744, legislation that has the potential to finally bring home the elusive goal of comprehensive immigration reform.

The Catholic Church has long fought for the rights of immigrants; we heed the Scripture’s call to welcome the stranger. Our popes have written about this need in their encyclicals and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Conference as well as individual bishops have been advocating for comprehensive immigration reform that would respect the rule of law while at the same time offer humane immigration policies for those coming to our shores. We have been emphasizing the need for family unity, an earned path to legal status and/or citizenship and a system that would allow temporary workers to come and go safely and freely.

Our goal in all of this is to help move people out of the shadows so they can live fulfilling lives, carry out their God-given potential, and receive the respect they deserve as human beings.

The complexity of the immigration issue requires thoughtful consideration, and in past columns I have dealt in detail with many of its aspects. At the end of the day, however, we acknowledge that immigrants often are fleeing economic, political or personal persecution. They are seeking to provide a better life for their families, and in the process they provide valuable and necessary services in our country, assisting our economy and making life better for all of us.

The time is long overdue for us to acknowledge their contributions (not to mention the billions of dollars they pour into our society), and to establish a system of immigration laws that are able to meet the demands of today’s society.

We Catholic bishops certainly understand and support our country’s right and need to provide secure borders, but it is also true that a country that has been as blessed as ours must not create a system that is overly harsh and punitive. Rather, our immigration laws should seek to reach out to as many people as possible while respecting the rights and privileges of those who are already here.

I fear that some of the markups being proposed to SB744 are far too stringent and punitive, echoes of the ineffectual arguments we have been hearing for many years. Far from accomplishing the goals we have long sought, these amendments would render the bill hollow and eliminate the very goals we have been striving for these many years. Such restrictive measures would neither meet the challenges faced by immigrants today nor reflect the principles of our great country.

I am very encouraged by the bipartisan effort being made in Congress right now to bring about comprehensive immigration reform. Of course, there will be many debates on the Senate floor, and then in the House of Representatives, as the Senate bill and the House version undergo consideration. This is a necessary part of the process, but I pray that the final result will be legislation that will not only protect our borders but provide for family unity, a reasonable time frame for the earned path to citizenship, and a program that allows temporary workers to safely enter and work in the U.S.

Recent polls show that Utahns join the majority of Americans in desiring this type of comprehensive immigration reform. However, our opponents are well-organized; it is often only their voices that our elected officials hear.

I know that many of us are shy about calling our elected representatives, but this would be a wonderful time to move beyond your comfort zone and put your faith into action. Please join me in contacting our congressmen to make our voice known. They need to know that they have our support on this issue.

Contacting a representative or senator is simple. Each has a website that allows you to submit comments, or you may mail or call their offices. Your message may be as simple as: "I am a Catholic voter in Utah and I want my representative to know that I support a reasonable and fair path to citizenship, and I would ask him to support the bill."

The contact information for Utah’s senators and representatives is in the box at right. Please take a moment to contact them to let them know that you support comprehensive immigration reform.

Sen. Orrin Hatch

Email: http://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-orrin

104 Hart Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

202-224-5251

Cedar City: 435-586-8435

Ogden: 801-625-5672

Provo: 801-375-7881

SLC: 801-524-4380

St. George: 435-634-1795

Sen. Mike Lee

Email: http://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-senator-lee?p=contact

316 Hart Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

202-224-5444

SLC: 801-524-5933

St. George: 435-628-5514

Rep. Rob Bishop

Email: http://robbishop.house.gov/contact/zipauth.htm

123 Cannon Building

Washington, DC 20515

202-225-0453

Ogden: 801-625-0107

Brigham City: 435-734-2270

Rep. Jason Chaffetz

Email: https://chaffetz.house.gov/contact-me/email-me

2464 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

(202) 225-7751

Provo: 801-851-2500

Rep. Jim Matheson

Email: https://mathesonforms.house.gov/contact-form

Washington, DC Office

2211 Rayburn HOB

Washington, DC 20515

202-225-3011

West Jordan: 801-486-1236

Rep. Chris Stewart

http://stewart.house.gov/

323 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

202-225-9730

Salt Lake City: 801-364-5550

St. George: 435-627-1500