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Commentary
Calling for an end to immigration raids Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, May 23, 2008
Bishop Gregory Palmer
By Bishop Gregory V. Palmer Special Contributor
Editor’s note:This statement was released May 13 after the largest workplace raid in Iowa history resulted in the arrest of more than 300 people—one-third of the plant employees—at the nation’s largest kosher slaughterhouse. The raid, which reignited the national debate over immigration, involved 16 local, state and federal agencies, led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
As bishop of the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and as a person of faith, I believe we are called as a community to speak about the immigration raid that took place May 12 at Agriprocessors Inc. in Postville, Iowa.
I feel called to speak out in concern for the families and individuals involved. I invite others to join me as we speak from our faith, which calls us to stand in solidarity with those being most disenfranchised by today’s events—the workers.
Throughout both the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Scriptures, there is a calling to connection and community with the strangers in our midst—to treat them “as the citizens among you” and love them as we do ourselves (Leviticus 19:33-34).
Compassion
In the Christian Scripture, Jesus continually manifests compassion for the vulnerable and the poor. Jesus’ life on earth initiated the Kingdom reality of a social order based on love, grace, justice, inclusion, mercy and egalitarianism (excerpt from “Welcoming the Migrant in the United States” Resolution, which passed overwhelmingly during the 2008 General Conference of the United Methodist Church).
I believe that people of faith and all persons of good will should join together to embody the new social order of God’s transforming love, power and justice, which breaks the chains of fear, injustice, racism, xenophobia and violence.
We are called to stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers whose lives were disrupted today at the Agriprocessors Inc. plant and who are facing unknown challenges and likely separation from their families, friends and loved ones.
As Iowa United Methodists, we want to stand in partnership and community with the workers in Postville who are experiencing hardships of unknown proportion. It is our belief that we are all deeply connected to one another through Christ without regard to one’s nationality or legal status.
Fear, chaos
I believe today’s raids create fear and chaos that is detrimental and harmful to communities here in Iowa and around this nation. We cannot allow the pattern of history to repeat itself where the newest migrants to our nation become criminalized and become the target of our animosity, fear, racism and anger.
As the United Methodist Church, we urge the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and all other law-enforcement agencies to cease these raids, release those who have been detained today and work with our elected officials to create a just and comprehensive immigration policy, one that will fully incorporate the undocumented among us into the life of this nation in ways that validate their humanity and affirm the many ways in which they contribute and enrich our culture here in Iowa, and our nation as a whole.
Our prayers are with all affected by the May 12 raid.
Bishop Palmer is the episcopal leader for the Iowa Area and president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops.
Bishop Gregory Palmer
