Baltimore City pastors draw attention to immigration reform

Saying the U.S. immigration system is broken, Baltimore City pastors called for its reform during a news conference Jan. 12 at St. Vincent de Paul parish in Baltimore.

The event was timed to coincide with the return of elected legislators to D.C. this month.

Recalling the long history of foreign settlers in the city, St. Vincent de Paul parish’s Father Richard T. Lawrence said the U.S. must move past its history of ethnic division. He said people who come from Latin America, Africa and Asia are often mired in complicated paperwork and face resentment.

“They’re poor, they’re going to live poor and they’re going to die poor,” Father Lawrence said, “and they all know it. But they have they the same hope preceding generations had, ‘My kids won’t have to die poor. If I work hard enough, I can make life better for my kids.’ That’s something that should resonate. It’s where we all come from. It’s something we all need to recognize and all need to respect and we need laws that reflect that.”

The Baltimore event was supported by the Baltimore Catholic Archdiocese Immigration Coalition, Central Maryland Ecumenical Council, CASA de Maryland, Baltimore City Hispanic Commission, Members of Community and Baltimore City Council Members

The “Immigration Reform for America’s Security Act and Prosperity” was recently introduced in the House of Representatives with nearly 100 co-sponsors. Similar legislation in the Senate is expected sometime in January as well.

Redemptorist Father Robert Wojtek, pastor of the Catholic Community of St. Michael and St. Patrick in Fells Point also was in attendance at the Baltimore event.

Father Joseph L. Muth Jr., pastor of St. Matthew, Northwood, and Baltimore City’s Church of the Blessed Sacrament, said immigration reform will create new taxpayers by requiring undocumented immigrants to register, go through background checks, pay taxes and study English on their way to becoming U.S. citizens.

He also said it would enhance national security by focusing law enforcement on the most dangerous threats to the country. He said such a move will protect workers, help with economic recovery, keep families together and protect due process rights for all.

“This is the time,” Father Muth said. “We are pushing for comprehensive immigration reform. It’ll help us to be faithful to the greatness of this country. …”

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