ByJessie Mangaliman Mercury News
A group of Bay Area civic and religious leaders, arms linked and chanting ``Let us build bridges,'' called Wednesday on the new Democrat-controlled U.S. Congress to push for immigration reform.``It's a new time,'' said attorney Mark Silverman, of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center in San Francisco, during a news conference Wednesday. He joined 20 other leaders from the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform, People Acting in Community Together and other groups on the steps of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph in downtown San Jose.After the divisive immigration reform debate that gripped the country during the summer and inspired massive street protests by immigrants, religious leaders said they will continue to push for reform.``We're not content that a wall is the solution to a broken immigration system,'' said the Rev. Jon Pedigo, director of the Bay Area's Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform, referring to the 700-mile fence President George Bush wants built on the border of Mexico and the United States.The national campaign, led by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, was critical in mobilizing millions of immigrants and their advocates during street protests in the spring and summer.The House of Representatives voted and approved a bill that focused on border security, while the Senate proposed a bill that would give some illegal immigrants a chance to legalize their status, and a path to citizenship. Without a compromise bill, split largely along party lines, no reform legislation was reached.But after midterm elections that resulted in Democrats capturing majorities in both the House and Senate, ``we have a real opportunity'' to push for legislative reform that addresses the enforcement of the country's immigration laws, but also find a humanitarian solution to illegal immigration, Silverman said.National groups such as the Federation for Immigration Reform opposed any legislation that would give illegal immigrants a path to citizenship.At the news conference, Pedigo and other immigrant advocates said they hope that when the new congress convenes in January, members will consider taking up immigration reform.``As we celebrate Thanksgiving,'' Pedigo said, ``it's our collective prayer that the new congress will work on comprehensive immigration reform.''
