Catholic Charities USA President and CEO Responds to President's Announcement

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Jun 15, 2012, 04:24 ET

The decision to no longer seek the deportation of most young undocumented immigrants in this country is a step in the right direction.

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rev. Larry Snyder, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), issued the following statement today in response to the President's announcement regarding immigration reform:

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"CCUSA believes that the administration's decision to no longer seek the deportation of most young undocumented immigrants in this country is a step in the right direction.

"While it is estimated that this policy will benefit as many as 800,000 immigrants, we must not lose sight of the millions of other hard-working immigrants in this country who have been separated from their families or those that live every day in the shadows for fear of deportation.

"Immigrants are a vital part of our economy filling necessary and critical jobs. Not only is addressing immigration issues the right thing to do, it is sound economic policy.

"We hope that today's decision will encourage members of Congress to work together to enact comprehensive immigration policies that would not only promote the security of our nation, but also put undocumented workers and their families on a path to lawful permanent residency and citizenship and look forward to working with them with on a bi-partisan solution to this critical issue."

Catholic Charities USA's members provide help and create hope for more than 10 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing.

SOURCE Catholic Charities USA