ECUMENICAL PRAYER SERVICE

FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM

at La Placita Olvera (Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish)

10:00 am, Friday, February 24

On February 1, the Dolores Mission faith community announced a month of prayer and fasting in the hope that the political leaders of our country will pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform legislation as opposed to HR 4437, which is narrowly focused on border enforcement and punishment. In the days following our press conference, we received hundreds of messages of fellowship and solidarity from people of faith and goodwill in the Los Angeles area, expressing their own commitment to pray and fast on this important topic.

We ask you to join us as we gather leaders and members of the various faith traditions from throughout our city for a morning of prayer and fellowship. Our goal is to provide a public witness of common prayer—demonstrating to our political representatives the genuine solidarity among leaders of our faith communities that we stand for immigration reform that is fair, humane, and rooted in compassion for the stranger in our midst.

Please join us in prayer, fellowship, and peace.

HR 4437: The Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act

Criminalizes the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S and further erodes due process. The legislation creates a new federal crime of "unlawful presence," classified as an aggravated felony. Punishment includes imprisonment, immediate deportation (without a hearing), and being forbidden from ever being able to secure lawful immigration status, no matter their family status.

Criminalizes organizations and individuals assisting undocumented immigrants. Anyone who knowingly assists an undocumented person are considered "alien smugglers," subject to prosecution, fines, and possibly imprisonment. Priests, doctors, teachers, social service agencies, even family members and volunteers could face federal prison time for their assistance.

Grants local law enforcement agencies authority to enforce federal immigration laws. When police act as immigration enforcement, it undermines their ability to keep communities safe—fearing police attention, families will be discouraged from reporting crime. Undocumented immigrants will become more vulnerable to crime and exploitation.

Expands the Basic Pilot Program employee verification database. All employees in the U.S. would be required to be part of a computerized verification program. The current version of the test program has proven faulty, leading to errors and discrimination that affects U.S. citizens and legally authorized workers.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform:a Just Approach to Legislation

Inspired by Scripture and directed toward justice, Dolores Mission Parish joins many other faith communities in insisting that immigration reform acknowledge and uphold the inherent dignity of the human person; the primacy of the human family; the fact of interdependence within our economy; and the requirement of due process for justice.

Therefore, throughout the month of February, we are praying, fasting, and advocating that our national legislators adopt Comprehensive Immigration Reform that includes the following components:

Legalization process for immigrants who currently do not have legal documents.

Reunification priority for families of mixed immigration status that face separation.

Legal labor program that provides opportunities for future immigrants to enter our country as laborers.

Guaranteed labor protections for immigrant workers that protect them from abuse, exploitation, and discrimination, and protecting basic human rights.

Restoration of due process for migrants and refugees who deserve to be treated with dignity, respect, and fairness in our economic and judicial system.