Local religious leaders gather to push for immigration reform

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Local religious leaders are gathering in an effort to push Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform.

Members of The Metropolitan Organization and other Houston area religious leaders are meeting today at 11 a.m. at the Chancery of the Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in hopes that their efforts can "keep families together, protect workers and "Dreamers" and provide a workable path to citizenship."

Bishop Scott Jones of the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, Bishop Michael Rinehart of Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo of Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, and others will be in attendance.

"For the past 11 years, we, as have met, prayed, studied and spoken in unity over the issue of comprehensive immigration reform," according to The Metropolitan Organization. "We look forward to seeing the President's plan. Such reform should demonstrate the biblical values of welcoming the newcomers among us and respect for the rule of law. We are dedicated to immigration reform because we value family unity, justice, equity, compassion, love, and the humane treatment of all persons."