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"The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 19:34).

Last December, the House of Representatives passed the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (H.R. 4437). Many of the provisions of this punitive and enforcement-focused bill are patently hostile to the alien among us.

On March 27, however, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved an improved bill. The measure, passed 12-6, contains many provisions supported by the faith community and other advocates: It provides a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants currently in the country; establishes a guest worker program that can lead to citizenship; and establishes a new temporary work program for undocumented agricultural workers. In addition, the committee's bill differs from H.R. 4437 in that it would not establish penalties for humanitarian and church groups helping undocumented immigrants or criminalize undocumented immigrants for being in the U.S. The Senate bill is a step forward in the debate.

The full Senate approved this legislation, with some amendments, at the end of May. Currently, the House of Representatives has begun holding hearings around the country on immigration issues, but has not moved towards finalizing its legislation with House legislation, which is needed for the bill to become law.

Unfortunately, much of the immigration debate is being dominated now by anti-immigrant rhetoric. Please write to your senators and representative and tell them that you support Comprehensive Immigration Reform that will reunite families, provide a path to citizenship and allow churches and communities to do their work without being criminalized for helping immigrants in need.

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