Immigration Laws Should Reflect Our Values, Not Politics Or Fears

We all come from immigrants, but many have forgotten that.   - - Donna Poisl

FROM SR. SIMONE CAMPBELL

A few days ago I stood with immigrants and faith leaders at the foot of the U.S. Capitol, the site of many rallies for immigration reform in recent years. But we weren't there to rally. Instead, we were gathered to pray and to fast for immigration reform. The next day, I was back at the Capitol, this time helping to deliver more than 11,000 pro-reform postcards to the House of Representatives. These postcards had been gathered by my organization from constituents in all 50 states, and they were in addition to the 10,000 we delivered this past summer.

I find it personally incomprehensible that the fight for comprehensive reform has gone on for so long when everyone agrees that our current system hurts immigrants and our entire nation. It is more than a cliché that we are a nation of immigrants. When did Washington forget that?

Who among us doesn't value our ethnic heritage? Where our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents came from, how they arrived here. We celebrate them in the foods we still eat, the traditions, artifacts and stories we still enjoy. I treasure a plate that belonged to my German grandmother along with the stories of my adventurous great-grandfather who left Spain at age 14 and immigrated to Denver by way of Cuba, where he learned the cigar-rolling trade.
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