New York, August 31, 2005 -- NCC General Secretary Bob Edgar joined an interfaith coalition of Christian and Jewish leaders in Nogales, Ariz., at the Arizona-Mexico border to call for immigration reform to save the lives of hundreds of would-be immigrants.

"The United States border with Mexico has become a line of death as hundreds of men, women and children die trying to cross into our country," the walkers said in a statement from Tucson on August 29. Recognizing the U.S. need to regulate immigration and maintain a secure border, the walkers urged the government to pass "a fair and compassionate" immigration policy and asked communities of faith to join "in a concerted effort to protect human life so that our border is one of friendship and humanity rather than fear and death."

The walk started on the Mexican side of the border and proceeded through the Port of Entry to the U.S. side.

The full text of the statement issued by the interfaith and ecumenical walkers:

Witnessing Crisis, Interfaith Leaders Call for Reform

The United States border with Mexico has become a line of death as hundreds of men, women and children become stranded and die trying to cross into our country. While we recognize that the United States must maintain a secure border and regulate immigration, the events of the past months cause us to join to protect life and human dignity. Christian and Jewish leaders representing many Churches, national Jewish organizations and religious humanitarian organizations from around the country have gathered on the Arizona-Mexico border as communities of faith deeply troubled by the suffering and death that is taking place daily. As we walk on this border which has brought death to hundreds this year alone, we remind our government that Americans are dedicated to a culture of life. We protest allowing vigilantes to patrol our border who threaten the heart of the commitment of the United States to justice and responsible government. We join to express our passion for protecting life as we speak out for humanitarian care for those migrants whose lives are endangered. We also raise a religious call in support of the efforts of our president and the Congress to pass a fair and compassionate immigration policy. We will call on all communities of faith to join us this coming year in a concerted effort to protect human life so that our border is one of friendship and humanity rather than fear and death.

We call upon our elected officials to enact legislation that includes the following:

An opportunity for hard-working immigrants who are already contributing to this country to come out of the shadows, regularize their status upon satisfaction of reasonable criteria and, over time, pursue an option to become lawful permanent residents and eventually United States citizens;

Reforms in our family-based immigration system to significantly reduce waiting times for separated families who currently wait many years to be reunited;

The creation of legal avenues for workers and their families who wish to migrate to the U.S. to enter our country and work in a safe, legal and orderly manner with their rights fully protected;

Border protection policies that are consistent with humanitarian values and with the need to treat all individuals with respect, while allowing the authorities to carry out the critical task of identifying and preventing entry of terrorists and dangerous criminals, as well as pursuing the legitimate task of implementing United States immigration policy.

Contact NCC News: Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2252

Pictured: border water station provided by Humane Borders, a faith-based organization working "to create a just and humane border environment."