ࡱ> 130%` bjbjٕ 4&&&&&&&:  : "8888888  $ h_ & 88 &&88 V V V &8&8 V V V &&V 8 azZ V 0 V ; ;V ;&V 48hV 2T 888 @ 888 :::::::::&&&&&& Commentary by Tom Allio Regarding Recent ICE Raids in Ohio August 4, 2008 If the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids of eight Casa Fiesta restaurants in Northeast Ohio accomplished anything, it is, once again, to demonstrate how terribly broken our immigration system is and how badly we need comprehensive reform of our existing laws. The 58 men and women arrested by ICE were the latest in a series of raids throughout the nation purportedly aimed at discouraging U.S. businesses from hiring undocumented workers. For some 12 million immigrants living in the shadows, these raids only serve to break up families, impose additional economic hardship and human suffering and cause greater fear and distrust within communities. The raids also serve to fan the flames of intolerance in the broader society. From my viewpoint, such actions are more counterproductive than they are constructive. Throughout the years, our U.S. Catholic Bishops have been on the forefront in calling for comprehensive immigration reform. Their leadership has resulted in the creation of the Justice for Immigrants Campaign, which informs and motivates Catholics to call for public policy changes that serve the common good. Readers can learn more about this campaign by visiting ( HYPERLINK "http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org" www.justiceforimmigrants.org). The churchs position on immigration is based on the Gospel, papal writings and Catholic Social Teaching. It flows from the belief in the God given dignity of the human person, a concern for the poor and marginalized, as well as, the calling of Jesus to welcome the stranger. As Catholics, we are called to be in solidarity with those workers who come to the United States to provide hope and dignity for their families. In addition, we have a moral responsibility to work to change unjust laws. This past month two Catholic Cardinals called the current U.S. immigration situation a terrible crisis and a dark moment in our nations history. Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, retired Archbishop of Washington D.C., said I see our challenge as one of shouting out the message of the Gospel, the words of the holy fathers, the unchanging teaching of the church, and in the profound conviction of our nations history that the real heart of America has not changed, that its willingness to right a wrong has not faulted, that it needs only continuous courage, unwavering confidence in the goodness of people and a trust in Gods love for the poor and the stranger. Cardinal Roger M. Mahoney, Archbishop of Los Angeles, called the current U.S. policy on immigration one that is doomed to fail because it underestimates the human spirit. The very act of immigration is a hopeful one, because it is based in the belief that a better life is possible for the migrant and his family. According to the Cardinal, the church must remain a prophetic voice in an increasingly hostile wilderness, defending her mandate, given by Christ, to welcome the stranger. It is important to note that our Churchs position on immigration reform does not mean that we can ignore legitimate concerns about protecting our borders, curbing the flow of unlawful immigration or the possibility of exploitation within guest worker programs. In advocating reform, we must strive to do so in a civil, just and charitable manner. Perhaps, in the ramp up to this critical Presidential Election, people of faith can insist that both candidates make commitments to achieve comprehensive immigration reform that treats immigrant workers fairly, provides an earned path to citizenship, addresses the social and economic factors that drive people to leave their countries, secures our borders and respects the rule of law. Immigration reform must not be relegated to the back burner. In the aftermath of the ICE raids at Casa Fiesta, it is time to redouble our efforts to better serve our sisters and brothers, region, and our nation. -30- IJL : ; < X Y 791žɱh4lhD36 h4l6 h4lh4lhrhD3hKh4l0Jjh4lUjh4lUh4l h4l5 h~.5h4lh4l5JKL RS=>$a$gdD3gd4l$a$gd4l21h:p4l/ =!"#P$% DyK www.justiceforimmigrants.orgyK Jhttp://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/@@@ NormalCJ_HaJmH sH tH DA@D Default Paragraph FontRi@R  Table Normal4 l4a (k@(No List6U@6 4l Hyperlink >*B*phH@H D3 Balloon TextCJOJQJ^JaJJKLRS = > 0000000000000000000000  ;XX ^q^^"^"^q^\ca^l=^ \^\Ȼ^\66< <  ::@ @  B*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagscountry-region9 *urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsState9 *urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsplace ,qb    9<Y79  & 1  . 1 9<D3}54lr/Q+~.@99ܷb99`@UnknownGz Times New Roman5Symbol3& z Arial5& zaTahoma"hP#&q#&^#&!UP UP !Pr42HX)?4l2ICommentary by Tom Allio Regarding Recent ICE Raids in Ohio August 4, 2008axcoplanaxcoplanOh+'0 ,< P\ |   LCommentary by Tom Allio Regarding Recent ICE Raids in Ohio August 4, 2008 axcoplanNormal axcoplan1Microsoft Office Word@,@ܝW@U@`ZUP ՜.+,D՜.+,x4 hp  SCCHHS' JCommentary by Tom Allio Regarding Recent ICE Raids in Ohio August 4, 2008 Title 8@ _PID_HLINKSAET%http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/ !"#$%&')*+,-./2Root Entry F)zZ4Data 1TableWordDocument4SummaryInformation( DocumentSummaryInformation8(CompObjq  FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89q