SVDP Immigration Advocacy

Once again the President of the St. Vincent de Paul Society writes… During our home visits, many of us in the St. Vincent de Paul Society encounter divided families, struggling to survive because one of the parents was deported.  Or, we’ve met undocumented families who live in fear of being caught. These situations of suffering and violation of human dignity often exact a permanent toll on both parents and children.

Senate Debates Immigration Bill and Amendments

Take Action!Vote Expected Before July 4 Recess

As people of faith, we are called to be engaged in the plight of immigrant families. The Senate is currently considering Bill S744 (Border Security, Economic Opportunity & Immigration Modernization Act of 2013), and voting on numerous amendments that have been introduced. Some of those amendments, if approved, have the potential of derailing immigration reform all together — leaving us with the status quo — and more of the same is simply unacceptable.

That is why I am asking you to contact your Senators and remind them of the five principles that are essential for immigration reform legislation, which we as Catholics support:

• Create a path to citizenship for undocumented persons in the country;
• Preserve the family unit as a cornerstone of our national immigration reform system;
• Create a legal path for low-skilled immigrant workers to come and work in the United States;
• Restore due process protections to our immigration enforcement policies; and
• Address the root causes of migration, such as persecution and economic disparity.

The Senate is expected to conclude its work on the bill before the July 4 break, and it’s important that the final bill effectively addresses the plight of immigrants.

Please take a moment as soon as possible to send a message to your Senators by clicking on the ”Take Action!” button.

Yours in St. Vincent and Blessed Frédéric,

Sheila Gilbert
President
National Council of the U.S. Society of St. Vincent de Paul

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Tags: Advocacy, Gilbert, immigration, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, SVDP