On the two year anniversary of one of the biggest immigration raids rural Minnesota has ever seen, Catholic Bishops released a statement calling for comprehensive immigration reform.News 12's Jennifer Hudspeth has more...Minnesota Catholic leaders met today and are taking action against a very complicated issue.Bishop Bernard Harrington says, "Our immigrant brothers and sisters enrich our community throughout the state of Minnesota strengthen our economy, and in many ways much of the agricultural business cannot operate effectively without their presence and yet at the same time in history our immigration policy is outdated and the system is broken."The Bishops hope immigration reform will raise awareness, help immigrants gain citizenship in a timely manner, and promote a better way to enforce deportation laws.Sister Anna Marie Reha says, "People have a right to migrate, to look for a better life for their families and at the same time acknowledging that countries have a right to protect their borders but do it in a just a humane manner."The statement was released in response to the Worthington raids that left many children without parents.Sister Anna Marie Reha says, "Families are broken up with the deportation of one parent or the other parent and it really disrupts the community life, and the business life of a community."One local advocate hopes that the support of the Catholic Church will bring about change in politics.Victoria Salas says, "It seems like the issue has dropped, that politicians don't want to talk about it and we need to put it back on the table and hold our politicians accountable for doing their job."The Catholic Community is following up its statement by dedicating January fourth as Immigration Sunday across Minnesota.Sister Anna Marie Reha says, "The Feast of the Epiphany is really to highlight the concerns for the immigrant community but also the celebration of the immigrant community and all the benefits that they bring to our community."The Bishops hope that the public views immigration as a global economic issue.Jennifer Hudspeth, Channel 12 News.










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