Gerald Kicanas, the Catholic Bishop of Tucson, Arizona, wants immigration to be addressed in a different way -- he wants reform.

Kicanas argues that three current enforcement-only bills would "take our country in the wrong direction," Vatican Radio reports.

Kicanas addressed the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security to argue that the three bills are not the answer to addressing immigration issues. He argues they will not fix our nation's immigration system.

The three bills, Kicanas argued, are harmful and would hurt immigrant children, criminalize undocumented immigrants and allow states to create their own immigration laws.

First, Kicanas pointed to the immigrant children. He says in all three of the bills, immigrant and refugee children are vulnerable. If the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) is repealed, 600,000 children could be affected. He also said children who fled from violence in Central America unaccompanied could be sent back to their home countries and subject to additional violence.

"Our country is judged by how we treat the most vulnerable and the removal of protections from children -- both in the DACA program and those seeking refuge -- flies against human decency and violates human dignity. We should not punish these children, who themselves are innocent and are only seeking opportunity and safety." 

Kicanas argued changes to the Secure and Fortify Enforcement (SAFE) Act would criminalize undocumented immigrants and punish those who help transport them to a hospital, soup kitchen or Mass.

Kicanas reminded the subcommittee that similar provisions in a bill were made years back regarding immigration. Those provisions led to protests across the nation. 

"As a nation, do we want to go down this road again? Do we want to criminalize millions of persons who have built equities in this country, jail them, and separate them from their families? Instead of fixing a broken system, would we want to jail nuns and other good Samaritans who are simply aiding their fellow human beings, consistent with their faith?" 

Kicanas said he hopes Congress will pass an immigration reform legislation after they failed to do so last time.