3. Protection of Workers,

      regardless of

      immigration status

4. Pathways to citizenship

The Senate “compromise” bill, a proposal comprising aspects of both the bi-partisan Kennedy-McCain reform and the Sensenbrenner bill, was prompted by demonstrations intended to halt last year’s anti-immigration legislation.

Failure to  reconcile differences between the compromise bill and harsher, enforcement-focused proposals has resulted in a lack of congressional response to the current problems in the U.S. immigration system.

This indecision may be to blame for actions taken earlier this year by some federal agents. Raids and detention of undocumented and suspected-undocumented immigrants have become more frenzied and less concerned with due process. In certain areas raids have included the use of racial profiling in identification of possible undocumented immigrants, indefinite detention based on hearsay evidence and mandatory expulsion from the U.S. without a court hearing.  ■

Keep up-to-date on immigration issues with the

Catholic Legal Immigration Network and Justice for Immigrants, see links below!