SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (CNS) – From the steps of one of California's first missions, northern California faith leaders called for the suspension of sweeps for undocumented immigrants by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency pending comprehensive reform of immigration laws.
"I don't think the way they enforced the law is right, or just, or moral, or tolerable, especially for children," said San Francisco Auxiliary Bishop Ignatius Wang, who was born in Beijing.
"We all are immigrants some way or another, and why should we treat other immigrants as aliens?" he added. "If the government wants to secure the borders, it is right. But if they treat human beings inhumanly, it's not right."
George Wesolek, director of the San Francisco Archdiocese's Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns, said the raids have created a climate of fear in many neighborhoods.
"The immigrant community which works next to us, lives next to us, goes to church with us, and sends their children to our schools are in terror, and they're living in pain," he said. "Our immigration system is broken and we need comprehensive immigration reform at the national level now."
The day after the press conference at San Rafael Mission, competing rallies were staged in downtown San Rafael March 31 by the Golden Gate Minuteman Project, a political network advocating strict immigration law enforcement, and by supporters of undocumented workers.
At the press conference representatives from several faith groups delivered brief statements about how raids by the agency known as ICE have affected immigrants.
"'Will my mother be there when I get home?' This is the question a little girl from a Catholic school asked, fearing that her family will be separated," said Mary Doyle, the Oakland Diocese's social justice coordinator.
She called on the government "to respect both the rights and dignity of those without legal documents."
Father Brendan McBride, coordinator of the Irish Immigration Pastoral Center in San Francisco, said immigrants are poor people trying to make a life for themselves in this country, "and we have to be with them in every step."
Father John Balleza, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Redwood City where raids were staged in early February, told the gathering, "I would like for our people to understand that the church is united with them in this struggle and that it is understandable they are afraid, but they can find comfort and security in the church. They know that, but we need to say it over and over again."
During ICE operations in early March in San Rafael and Novato, 65 people were arrested and 23 reportedly deported as part of Operation Return to Sender, an initiative of the Homeland Security Department launched last June to identify and arrest immigrants who have been ordered deported.
According to ICE statistics, between Oct. 1 and Jan. 26, more than 800 undocumented immigrants were arrested in northern and central California.
"Juan," a Guatemalan who attended the press conference, said he came to the U.S. to work and improve life for his family. "We are not criminals, and this country is so big there are opportunities for everybody," he said.
Reading a statement from northern California Catholic bishops and other Bay Area faith leaders, Bishop Wang said, "We stand with communities that seek justice for immigrants and, as in the past, we are prepared to organize for just immigration reform at local, state and especially the federal level."
"We implore all people of good will to treat all those in our midst with dignity," the statement added. "We call for an immediate temporary suspension of ICE raids. We ask that public officials ... work toward a reasonable solution that will offer a path to citizenship to the 12 million immigrants who now live in the shadows."
Other participants in the press conference included San Rafael Mayor Al Boro and representatives of the Episcopal and Jewish communities and various local interfaith bodies.
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