Faith groups urge immigration reform

WASHINGTON — Religious leaders hope to have tens of thousands of activists on Capitol Hill next week to push Congress to act on immigration reform, but at least one study shows they may have to persuade people in the pews before they can try to sway the politicians.

The idea for Sunday’s "March for America” began with Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, mainline and evangelical Protestant groups; nonreligious groups plan to join the march as well, with as many as 50,000 demonstrators expected to rally outside the U.S. Capitol.

Despite these estimates, a Zogby poll released in December by the Center for Immigration Studies shows that most members of religious communities want a decrease in immigration. Among those believing current immigration levels are too high: 69 percent of Catholics, 72 percent of mainline Protestants, 78 percent of born-again Protestants and 50 percent of Jews.

Pro-reform religious leaders and advocacy groups, however, discount the study.

Some advocates say the survey’s methodology was flawed. The Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, called the survey an anomaly based on the substantial turnout organizers are expecting.

"I do believe born-again Christians in America support an immigration strategy that respects the law while simultaneously reflecting Judeo-Christian values,” Rodriguez said.

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