Archbishop decries immigration raids at meat plants in six states

Published: 2006-12-14

DENVER (CNS) -- The archbishop of Denver decried the immigration raids conducted at meatpacking plants in six states Dec. 12 by federal authorities to arrest workers in the country illegally who were suspected of participating in an identity theft scam. "The mass arrest of unauthorized workers in Colorado and across the country this week once again puts a human face on the flaws in our immigration system, a system that needs immediate and very serious reform," Archbishop Charles J. Chaput said in a Dec. 13 statement. The Catholic Church supports the law and respects law enforcement officers, he said. But Catholics must question why the federal action occurred so close to Christmas and on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a special day in the church, particularly for Hispanics, he said. Many of the affected workers are Hispanic. The raids were conducted at plants run by Swift & Co., a meat processor based in Greeley, Colo. Federal agents also targeted plants in Grand Island, Neb.; Cactus, Texas; Hyrum, Utah; Marshalltown, Iowa; and Worthington, Minn.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .