Cedar Rapids, Ia. — A federal prosecutor warned today that if a judge releases Sholom Rubashkin from jail, the former Agriprocessors executive could quickly flee to Israel.

“The risk of flight here is acute, it’s too great,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Deegan said in court.

But Rubashkin’s lawyer said his client is tightly tied to his family and the community of Postville, where he ran the packing plant for years. The lawyer, Baruch Weiss, added that Israel has a strong extradition agreement with the United States.

Even if he somehow could get to Israel after surrendering his U.S. passport, Weiss said, Rubashkin surely would be sent back. “With these sorts of charges, he will not find a home in Israel, and he knows that.”

Rubashkin was arrested Friday on a federal bank-fraud charge. He had been free on bond after being charged last month with conspiring to hire undocumented workers.

Weiss asked Magistrate Judge Jon Scoles to release Rubashkin after increasing the bond to $2 million and ordering him to stay in his house or in the homes of friends or relatives in Iowa or elsewhere. He said dozens of friends and relatives were willing to put up their homes as collateral for the bond.

Scoles said he would consider the matter and make a written ruling, probably on Thursday. Rubashkin was returned to jail, at least for the night.

The plant has been struggling to survive since May, when immigration agents raided it and arrested nearly 400 workers.