May 21, 2008

CHICAGO – The Rev. Steven L. Ullestad, bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Northeastern Iowa Synod, Waverly, and Ralston H. Deffenbaugh Jr., president, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Baltimore, expressed concern about the impact of immigration enforcement raids on children and families in a May 20 statement submitted to the U.S. Congress and entered into the Congressional Record.

The statement is in response to the May 12 federal immigration raid at a meat processing plant in Postville, Iowa, where federal agents arrested more than 310 men and 76 women working at the plant. "Adults were immediately separated from their children and families," said the statement. Ullestad and Deffenbaugh called the raid "the largest of its kind in U.S. history."

Ullestad and Deffenbaugh urged Congress to "exercise rigorous oversight of workplace raids" to ensure that while U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement addresses concerns of national security it mitigates the sociological and economic impact and emotional trauma on a community; communicates and works closely with community social services and pastoral care workers to mitigate trauma among children, families and communities; facilitates access to legal counsel; does not transfer people out of the area but releases them from custody to attend hearings outside of detention; and develops communication mechanisms that allow family members and lawyers to locate those in detention.

"The impact on Postville underscores the need for comprehensive reform of immigration policy. The immigration law needs to protect children and unite families, safeguard human rights and worker rights, enable marginalized undocumented people to come out of the shadows and to live without fear, and provide a path to permanence for those who have put down roots," the statement said.

According to the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, the "impact of the immigration raid on Postville's community is similar to what would have happened if the town had been hit by a natural disaster. As a result of the raid, families have been separated, children are traumatized and a once thriving community is devastated."

"Our immigration law is badly broken and in desperate need of reform," said Hanson.

In response to the "acute emotional needs" of the Postville community, the ELCA is using its domestic disaster response mechanisms to meet the needs of the community, said the Rev. Kevin A. Massey, director, ELCA Domestic Disaster Response.

Massey traveled to Postville to meet with local Lutheran pastors and others from the community May 19-20. Calling the situation in Postville a "tragedy," Massey said the community "has been deeply traumatized. Religious leaders are working together there, and all are under tremendous stress as they seek to serve the needs of the community."

ELCA News Service