Members of Congress are declaring war on undocumented immigrants, most of whom come from Mexico (although they include Central Americans, Dominicans, Chinese, Koreans, East Europeans, Polish, African, Irish, and others). A new bill to be voted on soon, HR 4437, will make undocumented status an “aggravated felony.” And anyone who assists undocumented people can be found guilty of the same felony charge!

Teachers, doctors, police officers, social workers, and others may find themselves behind bars for being “Good Samaritans” and lovers of humanity (including those who do not recognize “illegal” status for anyone).

Fortunately, many people are already taking a stand against this proposed law. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the largest in the country, recently declared it would not stop helping undocumented immigrants (a significant number of their parishioners) who need their assistance.

In several cities, protests against the law have drawn tens of thousands, including a massive one in Chicago–from 200,000 to 300,000 people demonstrated–where even Mayor Richard Daley declared immigrants, with or without their papers, vital to the economy and social life of the city.

One small Los Angeles area city, Maywood, with 97 percent Mexican population, also refused to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and has declared the city a safe haven for immigrants.

This is vitally important for the future of this country. Presently, the ills in the economy and in the government (responsible for war, increased poverty, and greater uncertainty) are being pushed aside while poor, working class immigrants are scapegoated.

We cannot let the demagogues and liars take us off the focus on the powerful and wealthy of this country, and their stooges in the government, who are the real source of misery and war in the world.

Immigrants, particularly from Mexico, but including those from all over the world, are what this country now depends on. We should insure their safety, their health, and their economic wellbeing. Not at the expense of American citizen–on the contrary, we need to create an economy and a politics that incorporates everyone.

We must continue to protest HR 4437–and any other similar anti-immigrant legislation that might be coming down the pike. Our humanity, our integrity, our freedom, and our moral life are at stake here.