Some Final Thoughts on the Immigration Raids

It has been a couple weeks since the immigrations raid here in Marshalltown. Right after the raids took place, I wrote a lot about it.

Since then I have had some time to step back and think more about it and talk to people about the issue. I understand that illegal immigrants are illegal and have broken the law. However, I have two problems with the raids. First, the timing of the raids was not good. It took place less than 2 weeks before Christmas. Disrupting families at this time is disapointing. If the raids would have taken place sometime in January, I would have felt better about it. Second, it seems that Swift and Co. will be getting off without any consequences. If Swift and Co. wasn't hiring people who are here illegally, then illegal immigrants would not be here.

Finally, here is a story about the generousity and compassion that took place after the raids. I know someone who volunteered at St. Mary's Church here in Marshalltown the week after the raids. Someone rang the doorbell to the rectory. When the door opened, the man asked, 'if this was the church that is helping all of those Mexicans?" The volunteer wasn't sure if the man was angry or what. She said yes, this is the church. The man said that he heard the priest of the church on the radio and decided he needed to help. He drove over 2 hours from a small town in southern Iowa to get here. He then pulled out his wallet and started counting out $50 bills. I am not sure how much he gave, but it was a significant amount. The volunteer at the church thanked him and asked the man his name. The man said to just say that it is a gift from Steve King.