The Steering Committee of the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative urges all 
members of the Marianist Family, and all Marianist communities, both religious 
and lay, to join with us in calling on Congress to support comprehensive and 
humane immigration reform.  Specifically, we invite you to discuss the following 
statement and communicate the statement to your elected US Representative and 
Senators.  More information can be found at the Catholic Campaign for 
Immigration Reform's Justice for Immigrants website: 
www.JusticeforImmigrants.org.   
 
 
    The Marianist Social Justice Collaborative (MSJC) is a network of professed 
Marianist men and women and lay Marianists who have joined together to do 
education and action on social justice issues.  We, the Steering Committee of 
MSJC, are deeply concerned about the lack of compassion for immigrants in the 
current debate about US immigration policy.  We acknowledge the obligation of 
our government to protect the citizenry and to maintain control over our 
borders.  However, we as a nation must resist short-sighted solutions that do 
not provide real security.  We must also remember that immigrants coming to our 
country are usually poor people who are simply seeking jobs to support their 
families. 
 
    Embracing the spirit of Mary's Magnificat in the gospel of Luke, when she 
proclaims God's favor toward the poor, the powerless and the marginalized, we 
believe that a just immigration policy must include: 
�	The means for earned legalization with a pathway to citizenship for those who desire it; 
�	Support for maintaining family unity and encouraging family reunification among immigrants; 
�	Provisions to combat exploitative labor practices; 
�	An effective border security policy that is both just and humane. 
 
    We call on Congress and the Obama administration also to address the root causes 
of immigration, especially trade and international economic policies which 
undermine the ability of farmers and poor people in developing countries to make 
a decent living and deprive them of their human rights.  People in developing 
countries who cannot survive economically may find it necessary to migrate to 
places where jobs are available.  
 
    Only a comprehensive approach to immigration reform, rather than one that 
focuses solely on strengthening border security and putting in place harsh 
enforcement and punishment provisions, can accomplish the kind of immigration 
policy that is just and compassionate.