IN THE DIOCESE
tvc.dsj.org | April 24, 2018
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Local Leaders Respond to President Trump’s Statement
By Father Jon Pedigo
Director of Advocacy & Community
Engagement, Catholic Charities of
Santa Clara County
On April 7, President Trump said
that he will send troops to the U.S./
Mexico border in response to what he
said was a “crackdown” on increased
border crossings. California Governor
Brown agreed to send National Guard
to the border; however, he made it
clear that California troops will not be
used for enforcing immigration laws.
He said, “This will not be a mission to
build a new wall…It will not be a mis-
sion to round up women and children
or detain people escaping violence and
seeking a better life.” Many critics here
in Santa Clara County echoed national
critics. “Sending troops to the border is
a political game. The President wants
to use the border to appeal to his
base,” says, Chava Bustamante, a San
José community organizer for LUNA
(Latinos United for a New America).
Bustamante and dozens of other local
and national political and religious
fi gures criticize the decision to move
troops to the border when the over-all
number of border crossings is at its
lowest rate in decades.
U.S. Catholic Bishops of U.S./Mexico Border
Respond to U.S. National Guard Deployment
SAN DIEGO - In response to announcements regarding deploying the United
States National Guard to the U.S./Mexico Border, the U.S. Catholic Bishops of the
U.S./Mexico Border issued the following statement:
“We are deeply concerned by the announcement that the National Guard will
be deployed on the U.S./Mexico Border. The continued militarization of the U.S./
Mexico Border distorts the reality of life on the border; this is not a war zone but
instead is comprised of many peaceful and law-abiding communities that are also
generous in their response to human suff ering.
“We recognize the right of nations to control and secure their borders; we also
recognize the need of nations to respect the rule of law. Current law in the United
States rightly provides that those arriving to our country fl eeing persecution are
entitled to due-process as their claims are reviewed. Seeking refuge from persecu-
tion and violence in search of a peaceful life for oneself and one’s family is not a
crime. Our faith calls us to respond with compassion to those who suff er, and to
live in a spirit of solidarity with all human beings.
“We remain hopeful that our local, state and federal offi cials will work col-
laboratively and prudently in the implementation of this deployment, ensuring
that the presence of the National Guard is measured and not disruptive to com-
munity life. We are also deeply concerned that at this time divisive rhetoric often
promotes the dehumanization of immigrants, as if all were threats and criminals.
“We urge Catholics and people of good will to look past the dehumanizing
rhetoric regarding immigrants and remember that they are a vulnerable popula-
tion, our neighbors, and our sisters and brothers in Christ.”
Religious leaders, particularly
Catholics, are very critical of the
decision. Mexican and American
Bishops on both sides of the border
have spoken out against the plan for
increased military presence along
the border. Bishop McGrath echoed
their concerns saying, “We must look
past the dehumanizing rhetoric and
remember that immigrants are a vul-
nerable population and that they are
our neighbors and sisters and brothers
in Christ.” The Catholic Conference
of Catholic Bishops affi rms that the
principle role of the National Guard
is to be fi rst responders in the face of
natural disasters and helping protect
California against human and drug
traffi cking. However, they also state
that the National Guard cannot be
used as auxiliary border control of-
fi cers and most certainly cannot be a
political tool, “…pandering to nativist
fears and hatreds.”
Immigrants living in Santa Clara
County are far more protected and
supported than in other areas of
California and the militarization of
the border will not have much impact
on the lives of immigrants living here
because there are several systems that
provide support and protection for im-
migrants: the Sanctuary State law (SB
54) and the county’s detainer policy
uphold constitutional protections of
privacy and due process for all resi-
dents; the Rapid Response Network
of Santa Clara County has been estab-
lished to give support to immigrants
who are facing an ICE (Immigration
Customs Enforcement) action; local
police chiefs from all the municipali-
ties in the county have stated that they
support immigrant residents regard-
less of immigration status and that
they will not participate in removal
of non-criminal immigrant families;
and public offi cials including San José
Mayor Sam Liccardo and Police Chief
Eddie Garcia have come out publicly
to pledge their support for immigrant
families.
The Catholic community has taken
on a leading role in protecting immi-
grants. Catholic Charities is working to
help immigrants without proper work
authorization “get right with the law”
by helping them become legal resi-
dents, informing immigrants of their
rights under the Constitution and sup-
porting the Rapid Response Network.
Parishes and other faith communities
are partnering with Catholic Charities
to host immigrant rights workshops,
trainings for volunteers who want to
help in the Rapid Response Network,
and community organizing eff orts that
promote the fair and equal treatment of
immigrants.
For more information on how your
parish can host a “Know Your Rights”
workshop, please contact Catholic
Charities’ Immigration Legal Services
Community Relations Manager Gre-
cia Escobar-Emery at (408) 325-5218 or
gescobar-emery@catholiccharitiesscc.
org.
For more information on the Rapid
Response Network and how you can
serve as a volunteer, call Mariela
Garcia at Sacred Heart Community
Service at (408) 278-2160 or Jesus Ruiz
at PACT (People Acting in Community
Together) at (408) 998-8001.
All Are Welcome To Hear
Signed,
Sean Bryan, Papal Ninja
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