WASHINGTON, D.C., DEC. 10, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ migration committee is praising the House of Representatives for passing a bill that would enable people who immigrated with their parents to the United States as children or infants to seek citizenship.
Coadjutor Archbishop José Gómez of Los Angeles welcomed the Dec. 8 vote in the House. Now the bill needs to be passed by the Senate, which chose Thursday to vote on the House version of the bill rather than its own. This implies the bill will go directly to the president to be signed into law if it passes the Senate. It is not clear if the bill has sufficient support to pass there.
In a statement today, Archbishop Gómez commended the House for its «courageous and historic vote to give undocumented young persons a chance to reach their full, God given potential, through the DREAM Act.»
He urged the Senate to pass the bill prior to adjournment for the year.
«We cannot let this moment pass,» he said. «Our Senators must also pass this important legislation, so that it can be signed into law by the president as soon as possible.»
«The DREAM Act would provide thousands of deserving young persons who desire to become Americans a fair opportunity to do so,» concluded Archbishop Gómez. «This would not only benefit them, but our country as well. It is the right thing to do, for them and for our nation.»
