US religious leaders and lawmakers call for immigration reform

Catholic and evangelical leaders in the United States have issued a historic joint statement, ‘A Call for Christian Compassion and Wisdom in the Immigration Debate,’ urging Congress to address systemic deficiencies in the immigration system. Co-chaired by Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Reverend Walter Kim of the National Association of Evangelicals, the statement emphasizes human dignity and the need for humane border enforcement, clear legal pathways to citizenship, and protections against family separation.

Simultaneously, political figures are proposing different legislative approaches. Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar stated that President Donald Trump may support the ‘Dignity Act,’ a proposal aimed at regularizing the status of undocumented workers in essential sectors like agriculture, construction, and healthcare without granting immediate citizenship.

In contrast, Democratic Congresswoman Delia Ramírez has called for comprehensive reform through House Resolution 1409, which seeks to expand pathways to citizenship and strengthen protections for immigrant communities against current enforcement policies.