Today, as the House Judiciary Committee considers legislation seeking to address the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border, evangelical leaders sent a letter to members of Congress urging them to pursue policies that improve border security but do not erode or eliminate existing legal protections for asylum seekers or unaccompanied children.“As pastors and ministry leaders, we
The potential religious liberty ramifications of a new bill’s redefinition of “smuggling” in Florida law are vast, imperiling the freedoms of people of all faiths.
Migrants in Mexico / Catholic Relief ServicesSt. Louis, Mo., Apr 14, 2023 / 12:45 pm (CNA).Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami recently criticized an immigration bill under consideration in Florida, saying it criminalizes "empathy" by making it a crime to transport undocumented migrants for any reason. The bill, SB1718/HB1617, provides for a third-degree felony for anyone who "[t]ransports into or within this state an individual whom the person knows, or reasonably should know, has entered the United States in violation of law and has not been inspected by the federal government since his or her unlawful entry from another country." Supporters of the bill say the provision is meant to crack down on human trafficking. In addition, the bill would require hospitals that accept Medicaid funds to collect information about their patients immigration status. The bill has the support of Gov. Ron DeSantis. Wenski said such a law "offers no solutions t
Archbishop Wenski has often called for comprehensive immigration reform during his tenure and has occasionally criticized DeSantis’ approach to the issue.