Archdiocese of Mexico calls for “just and sensible” immigration reform

Mexico City, Mexico, Aug 16, 2004 / 22:00 pm

Speaking with reporters in the Mexican capital, Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, Archbishop of Mexico City, criticized the use of rubber bullets against Mexicans trying to cross the border into the US and he called for immigration reform that respects the dignity of the human person.

“All countries have the right to guard their borders and regulate immigration, but without violating human rights or sacrificing people’s dignity,” the Cardinal said.

 Meanwhile the latest edition of the Archdiocesan newspaper called for “just and sensible” immigration reform and rejected the use of violence against Mexican immigrants.

The newspaper called the authorization of the use of non-lethal arms against illegal immigrants inhumane, saying they endanger the lives of many people.

It underscored that before human rights continue to be trampled upon, a detailed evaluation of current policy is necessary, as well as consultations over the use of non-lethal weapons on the border with Tucson, San Diego and El Paso.