26-01-2025
Kansas Sen. Mike Thompson didn't let nun speak on immigration. Here's her testimony
On Jan. 21, Kansas state Sen. Mike Thompson called a hearing of the state Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee about Senate Continuing Resolution 1602, which concerns immigration.
Sister Therese Bangert of the Catholic Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth attended the hearing to speak on concerns about the legislation. Thompson did not let her take the floor, saying: 'We typically ask for somebody to give, for sake of time management, to give us a 24-hour notice. It's on our conferee rules.' The hearing had not been announced publicly until the evening before..
Here are Sister Bangert's comments, which she was invited to submit to the committee in written form:
Chair Thompson and Committee,
Thank you for the opportunity to make comments about S.C.R. No. 1602.
I am Sister Therese Bangert, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth for 61 years, and for 38 of those years I have lobbied in the Kansas Legislature. I apologize if my interruption at Thursday's meeting offended anyone. It is the first time in my 38 years that I have done that. I know parts of the legislative process well and the fairness of timely notice of issues being covered in committees is one. I know that this is the beginning of the session so certain processes can get overlooked and lost. I look forward to getting to know the new senators — Senators Barnes and Murphy — and I welcome you to this very important work.
First, I want to be clear that I agree that we have a broken immigration system and I, along with the Catholic Church that is my faith home, have advocated with our federal lawmakers for years asking them to pass comprehensive immigration reform. The no-system that is currently in place has enabled essential workers to work in Kansas but not have a legal way to enter. I suspect these are the immigrant women milking cows in the western Kansas dairies, men and women on the killing floors in the Kansas slaughterhouses and those roofing the homes in my neighborhood.
Line 13 of the resolution states that 'the priority of this massive operation will include the deportation of illegal immigrants who have committed crimes.' If I am reading this correctly, deportation will also 'include' the women who are milking the cows but do not have work permits. That is a concern that I bring.
Lines 5 and 6 on page 2 of the resolution state, 'fostering a legal immigration system that meets the needs of the state and our country.' I hope that fostering this legal immigration system will include the law-abiding immigrants in our country who are Kansans in every way but for papers.
Personally, I find troubling the heated rhetoric used when speaking about our sisters and brothers that are immigrants/the aliens Jesus speaks of in the Gospel. At times the language is dehumanizing. The immigrants I know are family values people who want the same things for their children that I want for my son, nieces and nephews. They are people of faith who work hard and long hours. I witness them being builders and rebuilders. Again, I want Kansas authorities to have the tools they need to address those who are violent criminals.
I close with a quote from the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth's Community Stance in 2011: While acknowledging the right of the United States to control its borders and that the issue of immigration is complex, we also recognize the suffering caused to separated families, exploited workers and those forced to flee from their homelands by poverty, hunger and other forms of violence. In light of our mission statement, we, the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, call for comprehensive immigration reform in our country.
Thank you for hearing me, and Peace.
Sister Therese Bangert is social justice coordinator for the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth.
