Catholic clergy, nuns and laity delivered more than 45,000 petitions urging immigration reform May 29 to the Los Angeles and San Francisco offices of Senator Dianne Feinstein.

The reforms sought by petitioners include family reunification, a pathway to citizenship for the 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., due process for immigrants and a just future worker program that includes a pathway to citizenship. Auxiliary Bishops Oscar A. Solis of Los Angeles and Ignatius Wang of San Francisco were among those delivering the petitions; 5,000 petitions had previously been delivered to the senator.

Religious leaders said they would deliver the petitions to Senator Feinstein's offices in the hopes she will support the principles of comprehensive immigration reform and reject "unfair" provisions of the proposed point system and other unreasonable requirements. The latter provisions include returning to the country of origin and keeping immediate family members apart until a green card application for the legalized worker is approved, a minimum of eight years.

The event was organized by the Catholic social action directors of the Roman Catholic dioceses of California; the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform: Justice for Immigrants; and the California Catholic Conference.