CA: Immigration forum aims to keep dialogue open [``Walls or Welcome?'' ]

Mercury News ^ | 5/22/06 | Kimra McPherson

[NormsRevenge]

Lorena Solorio remembers her younger brother teasing her as a child, telling her he was better than she was. Born in the United States, he was a citizen. Brought to the country in the trunk of a car, she was not.

``I couldn't understand why we had to sneak in,'' she said Sunday.

Now an employee of Catholic Charities of San Jose and a U.S. citizen, Solorio works with many children who are in the country illegally. As the national debate over illegal immigration continues to swirl, she said, she sees in those children the same confusion she felt as a child.

Solorio shared her story at an immigration forum at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Palo Alto. About 25 people attended the ``Walls or Welcome?'' forum, which was sponsored by the Catholic Community of Palo Alto, the Human Concerns Commission and Deanery 2 of the Diocese of San Jose and the Santa Clara County Council of Churches.

The forum aimed to spark discussion about why people come to the United States illegally and to articulate the Catholic Church's position on the issues.

--snip--

The Catholic Church does not officially support illegal immigration or lobby for open borders, said Gregory Kepferle, the CEO of Catholic Charities of San Jose. The church's position is that people should enter the country legally and that nations can control their borders as long as the controls are humane.

But Catholic leaders are advocating for laws that would allow people who crossed into the country illegally or overstayed their visas to start on a path to legal residence, keep families together and provide a way for workers to enter the country, Kepferle said.''

[sgtbono2002]

She couldnt understand why she had to sneak in. Well honey, ask the Indians who are coming in to Mexico from the south how they are treated there.

[NormsRevenge]

Heck, aRnold couldn't even be President in Mexico either, amongst many other things.

[mtbopfuyn]

The Catholic Church does not officially support illegal immigration or lobby for open borders

No, of course not. Just don't look in the back room.

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks for the mods!

[Mack the knife]

"...The church's position is that people should enter the country legally and that nations can control their borders as long as the controls are humane...."

---

Let's get this clear. Every country has the right and the obligation to control their borders. The way they do that is to pass laws, and then use force to enforce them. Ultimately, that means wounding and killing. Of course, the first time that happens the s**t will really hit the fan.

But ... I'm afraid we may have to kill a quite a few before they understand that we are serious, and the Mexican Government starts discouraging their citizens from trying to cross the border.

[Red Badger]

Welcome to California. Now, go home.........

[thinking]

There is a solution to the wall concept....merely install doors every 100 miles, and the doors are directly connected to the immigration desk, where walkins, apply for a work permit....

[Red Badger]

Maybe we should "Welcome" a few Mestizos here and send them back with a little "training" from The School of the Americas.......

[tumblindice]

A quick Yahoo search of illegal alien 'Lorena Solorio' produced a full page of hits.
Mebbe we could buy the ICE boys and girls some computers and internet service.

[tumblindice]

My mistake. She's now a US citizen.

[Fee]

The Catholic Church has a position on immigration. They urge their members to be law abiding and set themselves up to be good examples of their faith when they arrive in a foreign nation.

[gubamyster]

ping