TRUST Calls On Legislature to Act Justly Toward Immigrants
Texas Impact has joined a number of other statewide organizations in a coalition known as TRUST (Texas Residents United for a Stronger Texas). This organization was founded in 2005 to work with the Texas Legislature against discriminatory anti-immigration legislation, and toward enacting state-appropriate immigration laws for Texas that are fair, just, and right.
At a press conference on Thursday January 6, two coalitions, TRUST and RITA (Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance) stood together to reject Arizona-style immigration policies as a solution for Texas. Speaking at the press conference, business leaders, law enforcement officials, religious leaders, and elected officials reinforced the negative impact of immigration legislation that will be considered during the 82nd Legislature, which will convene on January 11, 2011.
Andrew Rivas, the Executive Director of the Texas Catholic Conference, the official public policy voice of the Bishops of Texas, spoke on the religious and moral implications of Texas passing anti-immigrant legislation. “Immigration is good for Texas,” Rivas said. “Arizona-style policies…have several pitfalls and risk decreasing the very safety of Texans…The issue of immigration is not simply a political one, but a moral issue that impacts human rights and the very life and dignity of the human person.” Rivas reminded the audience that “Scripture recognizes God’s people as immigrants, and Jesus himself is a refugee as an infant, and has no home of his own as an adult.”
Reverend Harvey Clemons, of Houston, stated that we all have a responsibility to a higher calling, and called on legislators to avoid writing policies that perpetrate harm, and to avoid turning a blind eye to the needs of the vulnerable.
Representative Rafael Anchia of Dallas and Senator-Elect Jose Rodriguez of El Paso both declared that they were opposed to the more than 40 anti-immigration bills that have been filed in the Texas Legislature thus far. Both men spoke to the challenge of not letting these bills distract from other pressing and urgent state issues. Representative Anchia explained that he will stand against many of the anti-immigration bills on principle, as some are unconstitutional; many represent bad policies for Texas, and will do nothing to fix the Texas economy or enhance border security.
Business leaders addressed the fact that such legislation would negatively impact the state’s economic base, and Adriana Cardena, of RITA, spoke to the legislation's scapegoating of a vital sector of Texas society.
To see a video clip from the press conference, click here.
