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.
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.
posted by Jewish Community Action Staff at 3:13 PM
2 Comments:
It's all nice and well for the JCA to focus on immigrant reform and other social action issues, but I never see them focus on Israel and their policies. We (the US) support Israel with 5 billion dollar a year so it's a local and national Jewish action item. For instance, what about the US made cluster bombs left by Israel in Lebanon over last Summer (see this link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6310945.stm
) Why doesn't the JCA start a blog discussion on Israel and its policies?
Thanks for your comment. According to JCA's bylaws:
Since our founding in 1995, JCA has worked very hard to exclusively focus on our mission, which is "To bring together Jews from diverse traditions and backgrounds to take action on social justice issues in Minnesota." Our dedication to our mission includes maintaining the integrity of its parameters, including restricting our efforts to Minnesota and not taking action on international issues.
We remain committed to this policy for two reasons. First, we feel that there are many highly capable Jewish organizations in Minnesota that address international issues and, more specifically, mobilize support for Israel. We strongly encourage those who wish to work on international issues to assist and join these organizations. Many, if not most, of our own members are active in such organizations.
Secondly, we find that the challenges of our own work require all the attention and dedication that our limited resources can provide. We take our mission very seriously and remain highly focused on it because of these challenges.
Thanks again for your comment, I hope this answer is helpful.
-JCA Staff
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