Immigrants have enriched us: Bishop of Dallas

“OUR COUNTRY IS in the midst of a debate over a simmering reality that has been among us for years ”” reform of our immigration policy. Over the years attempts have been made to address the issues. In 1987 an amnesty program was put into effect that resulted in some 3 million persons, here illegally, were granted citizenship, the majority from our neighboring countries to the south.

In the 1986 legislation employers were to be punished if they employed persons without proof of citizenship. Although a few fines were given to companies hiring illegals, enforcement quickly dissipated. What we as a nation were saying was that we wanted the people coming across our borders illegally to do the work we no longer wanted to do. And now we could get it done very cheaply. As a nation we brought on the present reality. In this area, the presence of these workers is heavily Hispanic.”

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