TMO brings Houston-Area Religious and Business Leaders together to respond to the

April 17, 2013

Catherine Rogan

When: Tuesday, April 23, 2013

HOUSTON -- TMO (The Metropolitan Organization) brings the faith community together on immigration reform on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 2:00 pm, His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo (Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston), Bishop Janice Riggle Huie (Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church), Rabbi David Lyon (Congregation Beth Israel), Reverend Mike Cole (Presbytery of New Covenant Presbyterian Church), other religious leaders will respond to the proposed bi-partisan legislation on immigration reform. The press conference will be held in the Sanctuary of Congregation Beth Israel, 5600 North Braeswood, Houston, Tx. 77096. Business leaders joining us are Mr. Charles Foster and Mr. Stan Marek among others.

Rabbi Lyon states, “We applaud The Gang of Eight Senators and their staffs for working tirelessly to create a bi-partisan proposal named ‘Border Security Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act.’ In 2008, we developed a set of principles that call for upholding family unity, respecting due process and human rights, and legislation that would be practical and workable for long term economic prosperity and security for all U.S. citizens, residents, and workers. We will review and measure this proposal and any amendments to it, in accordance with these shared faith principals.”

Cardinal DiNardo adds, “But more importantly for us, as people of faith, we see in the faces and hear in the voices of the immigrants in our midst, the image of God. The dignity inherent in us all is clouded, diminished, every time one of God’s own suffers from poverty and want, from oppression of any kind. We pray for, and commit to continue to act toward, a comprehensive immigration policy that recognizes human dignity and protects families, provides an avenue for the undocumented to come out of the shadows, punishes those who exploit the immigrant and secures our borders from those who would do us harm. Even though we come from many and varied faith communities we are united in our belief that this great nation is big enough, generous enough, and good enough to continue its tradition of welcoming the stranger to its shores—those who come here for a better life and contribute to the well-being of us all.”

Bishop Huie reminds us, “As greater Houston area denominational leaders, we have been working to form the conscience of our clergy and congregations around this critical issue. The perception is that immigrants do not pay taxes when in fact undocumented workers pay taxes and to a much greater degree than what they consume in our state, with an estimated $400 million surplus . The fact is undocumented immigrants contribute more than $17 billion to our state's economy. In Texas taking undocumented workers out of Texas economy would result in loss of $220 billion to economy and 1.1 million jobs.”

Texas Comptroller Report “Undocumented Immigrants in Texas: A Financial Analysis of the Impact to the State Budget and Economy”. (December 2006).
- 2008 Perryman Report