WASHINGTON (AP) — Religious and labor leaders are criticizing plans by senators writing an immigration bill to boost employment-based immigration and limit visas granted to people because of family ties.

On a conference call Wednesday, officials representing the Roman Catholic Church, the AFL-CIO and others said that family immigration is a cornerstone of the nation’s immigration policy and that shouldn’t change. AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka says immigration reform should work to unite families, not divide them.

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