Dear President Obama and Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano and Members of Congress, We the undersigned call on President Obama to issue an executive order to end immigration raids immediately. Jewish teachings tells us to "Welcome the Stranger" in our midst. Since its creation in 2003, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained thousands of people in raids on businesses and residences throughout the country. According to ICE, these raids are designed to protect public safety and national security by enforcing federal immigration law. However, these raids cause a considerable amount of hardship for immigrants and their families- both in the U.S. and in home countries- and for U.S. citizens. Raids separate families, violate U.S. due process laws, hurt the economy, waste taxpayer money, misuse local police, and threaten the basic human rights of U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike. The aftermath of a raid continues well after the operation is over, and towns are left to deal with the resulting humanitarian and economic crisis. Obama and Congress have to power to change this by passing immigration reform, instead of relying on immigration raids to enforce a broken system. Additionally, we know Obama will only sign an executive order ending immigration raids if we make sure our voices are heard loudly along with the voices of immigrants and allies. In signing, we are calling for an end to immigration raids by executive order and are urging for fair, humane comprehensive federal immigration reform in 2009.

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