Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Laredo (Agenzia Fides) - The Bishop of the Diocese of Laredo (Texas, USA), His Exc. Mgr. James Anthony Tamayo, complained that the proposed immigration reform has not yet arrived and the federal authorities are separating families due to lack of documents. The note sent to Fides Agency by a local source reports the Bishop’s words: "We continue to help Central American families who arrive in Laredo and are trying to reunite with their relatives in the United States. Maybe people do not know that migration has significantly reduced and now only 5 to 10 families arrive a day and not like before where there were more than 100 a day".
Mgr.Tamayo improvised a press conference yesterday after Sunday Mass, informing that these migrants are assisted by providing them with food, clothes and a place where they can wash themselves and where they can contact their families in the United States. He added that he is working with the American government and with other Churches to try to find a definitive solution to the problem of illegal immigration.
"We, as a Church, must respond to this emergency situation and try to help others, but all of this also requires a change in the laws of the United States, said Mgr. Tamayo. Currently families need about 10 years to meet the requirements and finally reunite, and we know that the admissible requirements are too strict. The most practical solution we see is the adoption of an immigration reform; this country has need of many workers in the countryside, in hotels and restaurants, in the building construction and these people just want to work".
On 27 June 2013, the Senate approved the bill S. 744 which provides citizenship for undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States before December 31, 2011 and who do not have a criminal record. However, due to disagreements between Democrats and Republicans, the Chamber has not yet set a date for discussion with a view to final approval (see Fides 30/05/2014). (CE) (Agenzia Fides 22/09/2014)
