Violate Immigration Law, Priests, Nuns Urge Citizens

A group of Catholic priests and nuns called upon all Americans on Friday to violate the new immigration reform law by hiring workers without inquiring about their legal status.

The group said the law violates basic human rights and breaking it is a “just response to the economic suffering and hardship” experienced by those who do not qualify for employment under the Immigration Reform and Control Act, which was signed into law last November.

It was believed to be the first time clergy had advocated violating the new law.

Called a Response to Pope

Activist priest Luis Olivares told a news conference at St. Camillus De Lellis Church in the Lincoln Heights District that he was acting in response “to the words of the Holy Father (Pope John Paul II) and the words of the archbishop,” Roger M. Mahony.

Olivares, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Angels Roman Catholic Church, Los Angeles’ largest Latino parish, cited John Paul’s Aug. 5 message from the Vatican, in which the Pope urged that authorities halt “any possible discrimination” against immigrants.

The priest also cited Mahony’s statement last April, in which the archbishop said the church has “a moral obligation to respond to those in our midst who do not qualify for (the law’s) amnesty provisions.”

Mahony’s secretary, Father Richard Estrada, said the archbishop was not available for comment Friday.

The new law permits aliens to apply for legal residence under a one-time amnesty provision if they can prove that they have been living in this country since before Jan. 1, 1982. Sept. 1 was the deadline for workers hired since last Nov. 6 to have submitted proof that they are authorized to be employed.

“We are now beyond that zero hour,” Olivares said. “There are hundreds of undocumented aliens and their families who are seriously affected.”

Reading from a prepared statement, which bore the names of 38 priests, nuns and lay people, Olivares said:

“The Lord’s command is clear. In the Book of Leviticus, God says, ‘When aliens reside with you in your land . . . you shall treat them no differently than the natives born among you.’

“In the light of the Gospel call to justice, we find ourselves unable to comply with the current regulations regarding the hiring of undocumented workers.

“Today, we stand with these people. . . . Therefore, we commit ourselves: To hire workers regardless of their legal status.

“To see employment for non-qualifying workers by encouraging employers to hire the undocumented.

“To feed, clothe and house those rejected by the law.

“To call on other congregations and church leaders to respond in similar ways. We challenge the American people to acknowledge that the law, itself, is in violation of human rights, and we encourage them to respond to the needs of the undocumented with justice and compassion.”

Olivares indicated that he has already broken the law, admitting that he has hired workers since Nov. 6 without inquiring about or attempting to verify their legal status.

Under the law, employers could be subject to a fine or imprisonment for such violations.

Termed a Disservice

Ernest Gustafson, director of the Los Angeles district of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, said the group’s call to break the new law is a clear disservice.

“My question is how many of the illegal alien community have they actually assisted?” Gustafson asked. “My guess is that number would be minuscule. In contrast, the 275,000th person filed an application for amnesty today in this district.

“This group should be trying to help the alien community rather than make protests, which do nothing to help the qualified people.”