Dropping of immigration charges is unjustified

How shocked and frustrated I was when I heard that federal prosecutors had dismissed all immigration charges against Sholom Rubashkin, the former manager of Agriprocessors in Postville. On Nov. 12 he was convicted of 86 of the 91 business fraud charges.

What about the second part of the trial, which was to look at the 72 immigration charges? Were not these charges as serious as those related to the financial operation of the plant? These charges focused on the hiring of undocumented workers.

Yes, many of the men and women who worked at Agriprocessors came into our country without proper documentation, but they were hired and did hazardous jobs. Northeast Iowa needed them and the country profited from their work. Then on May 12, 2008, they were arrested and charged with identity theft. They served their five months in jail and most were deported; some were required by the government to remain in order to serve as witnesses. Now their testimony is no longer needed.

Dropping the immigration charges denies us the opportunity to hear the immigrant story. Justice will not be done until the full story is heard, and our country recognizes the need for and initiates action on comprehensive immigration reform.

Mary McCauley

Dubuque