University among those most critical of immigration reforms

By Allison Sundaram

In the wake of protests across the nation, students and administrators here have joined other community leaders in condemning sweeping immigration reforms, which could criminalize those who give aid to illegal immigrants.

Both University President Paul Locatelli, S.J., and student leaders say that the social justice mission of Santa Clara implores the university to reach out to immigrants in need.

In fact, Locatelli was one of several religious leaders who participated in an interfaith rally in front of the Mission Church on March 14 denouncing the legislation. And several Santa Clara students, who were in Los Angeles for a spring break immersion trip to the Dolores Mission Community, participated in weekend protests downtown.

"We walked with them and stood in solidarity with the community. They're making such a huge stance against this immigration law," student co-leader of the trip Amy Kennedy said. "Part of being on an immersion trip is being in solidarity with the community, so we were with the community to experience this with them and got to walk with all the people in the streets."

Student protesters have been especially active in the outcry against what is perceived by some advocates as a crackdown on immigrants.

San Jose saw several student walk-outs in schools around the city over the last week.

In Los Angeles, more than a half-million people filled the streets in protest two weeks ago, the Associated Press reported.

"Among the many reasons to oppose the criminalization of undocumented immigrants is the mandate to be compassionate as God is compassionate," said Locatelli at the rally and sent in a statement to The Santa Clara. "And when the bill criminalizes -- by prosecution, fines and possible imprisonment -- organizations and individuals who assist undocumented persons, it strikes at the heart of the mandate to feed the hungry and comfort the victims of injustice."

Additionally, students on-campus are getting involved. An immigration protest is scheduled for Friday afternoon in front of the Benson fountain. A prayer vigil was held Wednesday night in the Mission Church.

The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act is a Senate version of controversial House Resolution 4437, which passed in December 2005.

If the Senate resolution passes, both bills will be sent to a conference committee, to have their differing addendums rectified.

The Senate bill passed through the Judiciary Committee on March 27; a debate on the floor is upcoming.

HR 4437's controversy is centered on several provisions in the bill, which support a hard-line stance against illegal immigration. Some items attached to the bill include fencing the U.S.-Mexico border.

Supporters of new legislation say increased border security is imperative after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"It's a sticky situation for the Republicans. They have to be very careful about how they spin this," political science professor James Lai said. "Let's let (illegal immigrants) earn their legal status here instead of treating them like felons. I think that will more likely go through than let's build a wall. You can't make felons out of people who are doing things you don't want to do."

Maria Marroquin, director of the Mountain View Day Worker Center, is one of the aid providers who would face criminalization in the event of the bill's passing. "According to this, I need to ask all the people who ask for help their information about their legal status," she said. "It could be really impossible to keep working, and I'll be like a criminal."

The Mountain View center sees 100 to 120 workers looking for placements per day during spring and summer months.

However, in general, they are only able to find a job placement for 25 percent of the applicants.

The aid workers' contributions also provide a buffer between laborers and the unscrupulous.

"We provide protection against bad employers and people who take advantage of the day workers who use their services and didn't pay," Marroquin said.

"If they need to go back to the street they could be more vulnerable," she said. "It is unrealistic that if the centers close that workers will disappear."

Contact Allison Sundaram at (408) 554-4546 or asundaram@scu.edu.