Christians descend on Washington to protest immigrant bill
-06/03/06
Christians and oth
Christians descend on Washington to protest immigrant bill
-06/03/06
Christians and other faith leaders are joining immigrant rights supporters from across the United States to make an unprecedented protest visit to Washington, D.C. tomorrow (Tuesday).
The campaigners are seeking to express their opposition to HR 4437 ó a bill which they say is ‘anti-immigrant’ and if approved, will permit the government to prosecute almost anyone who has regular contact with an undocumented person, including their families and organizations that advocate on their behalf.
Under the proposals anyone who knowingly “assists, encourages or directs” someone to reside in the U.S. illegally would be guilty of alien smuggling and subject to up five years in prison.
The proposed legislation would also make way for a 700-mile border fence to be built between the U.S. and MÈxico.
ìIf passed, HR 4437 is likely to drive undocumented immigrants further underground and increase their vulnerability to exploitation by broadening the definition of alien smuggling to include family members, employers, and immigrant advocates,î states Joyce Miller, from the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) which is a Quaker organization committed to social justice, peace, and humanitarian service.
ìThe provisions of HR 4437 amount to a basic assault on civil liberties,î states Esther Nieves, director of Project Voice, the American Friends Service Committeeís initiative that works to protect human rights and strengthen the impact of immigrant-led organizations on national policy.
ìThe bill ignores fundamental legal principles and the constitutional guarantee of due process.î
The demonstrations come after Catholic leaders said that if they law is passed they might have to break it, as “the laws of the gospel always exceed the laws of the land.”
Christians descend on Washington to protest immigrant bill
-06/03/06
Christians and other faith leaders are joining immigrant rights supporters from across the United States to make an unprecedented protest visit to Washington, D.C. tomorrow (Tuesday).
The campaigners are seeking to express their opposition to HR 4437 ó a bill which they say is ‘anti-immigrant’ and if approved, will permit the government to prosecute almost anyone who has regular contact with an undocumented person, including their families and organizations that advocate on their behalf.
Under the proposals anyone who knowingly “assists, encourages or directs” someone to reside in the U.S. illegally would be guilty of alien smuggling and subject to up five years in prison.
The proposed legislation would also make way for a 700-mile border fence to be built between the U.S. and MÈxico.
ìIf passed, HR 4437 is likely to drive undocumented immigrants further underground and increase their vulnerability to exploitation by broadening the definition of alien smuggling to include family members, employers, and immigrant advocates,î states Joyce Miller, from the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) which is a Quaker organization committed to social justice, peace, and humanitarian service.
ìThe provisions of HR 4437 amount to a basic assault on civil liberties,î states Esther Nieves, director of Project Voice, the American Friends Service Committeeís initiative that works to protect human rights and strengthen the impact of immigrant-led organizations on national policy.
ìThe bill ignores fundamental legal principles and the constitutional guarantee of due process.î
The demonstrations come after Catholic leaders said that if they law is passed they might have to break it, as “the laws of the gospel always exceed the laws of the land.”