Catholic institute’s plan to shelter immigrants in Emsworth draws support, opposition
July 30, 2014 12:00 AM
By Peter Smith / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A charged but orderly hearing Tuesday evening drew a standing-room-only crowd of mostly supporters but also strong opponents of a Roman Catholic institute’s plans to temporarily shelter dozens of unaccompanied immigrant children from Central America.
Supporters at the hearing, held at Sacred Heart Church’s fellowship hall in Emsworth, said they were proud of Holy Family Institute — a longstanding agency offering a wide range of services to children and families — for agreeing to take in up to three dozen immigrants at a time, all of them 12 or younger, on a rotating basis until their immigration status is resolved.
The institute agreed to take the children as part of a wider government response to a surge of Central American children, unaccompanied by parents, traversing Mexico and then crossing U.S. borders illegally.
“I'm your typical blue-collar American,” said Walter Krymski of Emsworth, who said the institute helped him three years ago during “the roughest time of my life.” His only question about the immigration plan, he said, was: “Will you call me if you need any help?”
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2014/07/30/Catholic-institute-s-plan-to-shelter-immigrants-in-Emsworth-draws-support-ire/stories/201407300103
