IRISH BISHOPS CRITICIZE GOV'T IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN

DUBLIN, Jun 19, 01 (CWNews.com) - Ireland's Catholic
bishops have criticized the government for its newest
efforts to crack down on illegal immigration, saying the
new measures will also affect those who are legitimately
seeking asylum.

The government, over the past year, has stationed Irish
police in French ferry ports to screen passengers bound for
Ireland. A new proposal would fine truck drivers, airlines,
and ferry operators who facilitate illegal immigration. The
bishops said those penalties would make the transportation
industry into an extension of the police and "proxy
immigration officials." They said these groups would
inevitably turn away genuine asylum seekers without legal
proceedings.

"There are major issues of faith and morality here for our
Christian community," the bishops said.

Justice Minister John O'Donoghue dismissed the criticisms,
saying similar laws are being drafted in all 15 European
Union states and will only help block the illegal
trafficking of human beings. He added that asylum
applications must be made in the countries the refugees are
coming from and not after they have entered Ireland
illegally.