Bishops insist wall on US/Mexican border not the solution for illegal immigration

Mexico City, Mexico, Jun 21, 2006 / 22:00 pm

Bishops from the United States, Central America and Mexico gathered in Tabasco this week, to reiterate their concerns about illegal immigration and said that building a wall on the border will do “nothing” to solve the problem.

During their meeting, the bishops also expressed dismay at the ill treatment thousands of Central Americans who enter Mexico illegally on their way to the United States.

“We are worried that thousands of Mexicans and Central Americans are leaving their countries and risking their lives to cross to the United States,” said Bishop Renato Ascencion Leon of Juarez, Mexico, and president of the Mexican bishops’ Committee on Human Mobility.

Bishop Gerald Barnes of San Bernardino, California, told the EFE news agency, “We don’t want more deaths - we do want better treatment for migrants.”  He also said that he was opposed to the building of a wall and the sending of National Guard troops to the southern border.  

“We believe migration must be given attention and we have spoken with leaders of the countries involved,” said Bishop Armando Ochoa of El Paso, Texas.