Speech #1020006969

Rev. Msgr. Nicholas DiMarzio. and to the outstanding work he has accomplished over the last 6 years as executive director of one of the Nations largest immigration and refugee agencies. Migration and Refugee Services of the U.S. Catholic Conference. Monsignor DiMarzio is leaving MRS this month. He is being called to the Archdiocese of Newark where he will become the vicar for human services. While we will miss his energy. his commitment. and his clear vision of what our Nations refugee and immigration policies should be. we are happy to know that he will continue his ministry in Newark. With the Speakers permission. I would like to tell my colleagues about Monsignors tenure as MRS and the remarkable work of this organization. Under his able leadership. MRS. which is the service office of the U.S. Catholic Conference. has resettled over 167.000 refugees in its national network of some 140 diocesan resettlement programs and also provided initial assistance from Church resources to over 40.000 persons from refugeelike situations. MRS helps people irrespective of their race. creed or national origin. To assist newcomers and aliens in the United States to deal with their immigration problems and to assist these families in reuniting with separated loved ones. Monsignor DiMarzio. at the direction of the migration committee of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. created the National Catholic Legal Immigration Network. CLINIC serves low income clients through diocesan immigration programs and has served well over 50.000 individuals since its inception in 1988. A strong proponent of a generous U.S. refugee and asylum policy. particularly of the need for a legally recognized safe haven status for persons unable or unwilling to return to their homelands because of war. generalized conditions of violence. unrest. or persecution. Monsignor DiMarzio was a frequent witness before congressional committees. Monsignor took every opportunity that presented itself to win support for the Catholic Churchs positions that sought to protect family life and family unity. and that supported a generous and diverse U.S. immigration policy as one that best enhanced the vitality and special character of our nation. Monsignor was particularly concerned about the need to enact the MoakleyDeConcini legislation that would have offered temporary asylem to El Salvadorans and Nicaraguans. but he wanted that legislation to contain work authorization so that these refugees could support themselves and their families. Monsignors concerns were truly catholiche worried about the needs of all newcomers whether the undocumented. the refugee. the parolee or the immigrant. He worked and testified to promote increased U.S. admissions of Irish. Poles. and other Eastem Europeans. as well as Africans. Amerasians. former Vietnamese reed prisoners. the Cambodian survivors of the Asian Auschwitz. skilled and unskilled workers. particularly religious workers. If the Congress and the executive branch heard from Monsignor DiMarzio and MRS. so too did the refugees he visited in camps around the world. and the officials responsible for their protection and care. He even went to Vietnam and to Cuba to urge the release of political prisoners and the reunification of separated families. When Monsignor made a series of trips to Cuba to negotiate the release of Cuban political prisoners with Fidel Castro. not many of us were surprised at the outcome. If anyone could argue philosophically. pleadingly. or polemically. and maybe even wear out Fidel. it was this determined. vocal priest from New Jersey. His efforts in Cuba were successful and literally thousands of former Cuban political prisoners have come to our shore and been aided by this man and the Catholic Conferences services. As a recognized export on acculturation and selfsufficiency for refugees. Monsignor worked for more realistic Federal policies that would promote the smoother integration of newcomers into our communities and that would encourage less reliance on welfare or other forms of public assistance. He urged Congress and the administration to make welfare a last resort in refugee resettlement and for quicker resettlement of refugee groups like Amerasians or former political prisoners so that no more of their lives were wasted and so that their energies could be directed toward new and productive work. instead of marking time in endless queues. MRS Immigration Program assisted some 200.000 individuals under the legalization effort and is now involved in aiding Salvadorans to register for temporary protective status during the 6 months set aside by last years landmark Immigration Act of 1990. a piece of legislation that was a top priority for Monsignor DiMarzio and MRS/USCCs public policy division in the last Congress. But now Monsignor DiMarzio is packing up and heading back to New Jersey. where I know he will receive a warm welcome from his many friends and family. Well miss him in the halls of Congress but I have no doubt that as a priest and as an administrator. he will continue to aid the poor and the afflicted. to find shelter and refuge for the homeless. whether in this country or abroad.