What is the purpose of the raid at the Swift Plant?

Everyone seems to agree that America's system of immigration is broken and needs an overhaul. Polls have indicated that a majority of the country support comprehensive reform and reject the Republican House approach of enforcement only. Even President Bush rejects this approach.

However, two weeks before Christmas, and on a Latino religious holiday, ICE sweeps into Swift plants across the country, including Worthington, MN and rounds up workers. With no opportunity to deal with their children, families are torn apart and towns are shattered. Why now? ICE has concerns about fraudalent documents being used, but that has been the case for years, and why? Because the United States has failed to reform the immigration system, because businesses need labor, and because immigrants need to work to care for the family, immigrants sometimes overstay their visas, or enter the country without documents.

These workers are trying to live up to the American dream. Work hard, provide for their families. Does the government plan to deport these adults with or without their children? What will this do the production of meat from these plants and the impact on towns if these plants can't operate? How does this decision by ICE square with the government's concern about family values? If there are problems with fraudulent documents, meet with the unions who represent workers, meet with the plant and develop an orderly process. This inept attack on workers and their families doesn't accomplish anything but the disruption of businesses and the destruction of families.

ICE needs to reunite families and work with Congress to develop real reform of the broken immigration system. This is the wrong approach at the wrong time and we need our Congressional delegation to step in to help these workers and families.

Keith Ellison's Oath

The story in Friday's Star Tribune reported that Congressman-elect Keith Ellison plans to place his hand on the Q'ran when he takes his oath of office in the House of Representatives. We know that Keith Ellison is the first Muslim elected to the US House of Representatives.

Mr. Ellison is being criticized by conservatives and some talk show hosts for not wanting to swear his oath to office with his hand on the New Testament. Some have said that if he isn't willing to put his hand on the Christian bible then he is not fit for office.

It is clear that many people in this country need a lesson in the US Constitution. The first amendment clearly lays out the Establishment clause and the Free Exercise Clause. The establishment clause says that the United States cannot establish a religion that all Americans must follow. Therefore, we cannot compel Americans to swear on a bible anymore than we should expect Keith Ellison to forego his holy book, the Q'ran, for the New Testament. The free exercise clause states that all Americans are free to practice whatever religion they wish, free of any restraint, including no religion if that is their choice.

This civics lesson should be taught to those individuals who want to criticize Mr. Ellison for his decision about how he wishes to be sworn in for office.

Finally, regardless of your party affiliation or whether you voted for Mr. Ellison, Americans should celebrate the fact that our country will now have a Muslim serving in Congress.

As Jews, we know firsthand the many obstacles we needed to overcome to be accepted in the broader community, and in politics. Many Jews now serve in Congress, in the House and the Senate. Now that the United States has elected its first Muslim to office, let's celebrate that step, and not try to dictate how this or any other individual should practice his/her religion.

-Vic Rosenthal