Coleman is out of the country, but members of his staff met with the group, which included a rabbi, priest and Lutheran minister. Also participating was Mike Potter, president of United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1161, who gave the Senate staffers a first-hand account of the recent raid by immigration authorities at the Swift Co. meatpacking plant in Worthington.

"I don\'t have the words to describe the effect it had on the families in Worthington," Potter said. "It was devastating."

Potter\'s report made an impact, said Rabbi Morris Allen of Beth Jacob Congregation in Mendota Heights. He said staffers told him they would report on the meeting to Coleman, who is on a tour of the Middle East.

"We are looking forward to a meeting with the senator on his return," Allen noted. The group reported on its meeting to a rally and vigil outside Coleman\'s office Monday afternoon.

Specifically, the group asked Coleman to take the following actions:

- Work to end immigration raids such as those that took place last week in Worthington and five other cities.
- Release the more than 1,000 people who were detained in the raids because of questions about their legal status in the country.
- Reunify families divided by the raids.
- Take the lead in promoting comprehensive immigration reform.

Jennifer Christiansen, secretary-treasurer of UFCW Local 789 in South St. Paul, said all Americans have a vested interest in seeing that immigrants are treated fairly.

"It affects all of our rights," she said. "After they take the immigrants, it\'s the rest of us."

At the vigil, which occurred on the fourth day of Hanukkah, participants lit menorahs to signify their hope for peace among all humanity.

UFCW Local 1161 President Mike Potter, flanked by religious leaders, addressed a group outside U.S. Senator Norm Coleman\'s office Monday.

Vigil participants carried candles (above) and lit menorahs (below) in solidarity with the families suffering because of the recent immigration raids.