Immigration Raid Hurts Small Iowa Town

Protesters Rally Against Immigration Policies; One Out Of Three Residents Swept Up In Raid

(CBS/ AP)  It was the largest single immigration raid in the country. There were 700 warrants and 300 arrests. Agriprocessors, a kosher meatpacking plant, lost three quarters of its workforce, reports CBS Evening News correspondent Russ Mitchell. And tiny Postville, Iowa lost one out of every three of its residents.

---

"I would say we lost a good third of our people," said Postville Mayor Bob Penrod. "It's a pretty substantial hit."

Businesses that had served the Hispanic community struggled or shuttered after the May 12 raid. The meatpacking plant scrambled to replace 700 workers -- at one point busing in the homeless from Texas.

"This has not created anything good for the community," said Father Paul Ouderkirk, a former pastor at St. Bridget's Church "It's created division, hurt, harm."

About a thousand protesters descended on Postville on Sunday, decrying the raid and calling for a change in federal immigration policies.

Postville, a town with about 2,200 residents, was pushed to the forefront of a national debate when federal immigration officials raided Agriprocessors - the biggest U.S. kosher meatpacking plant - in May in the largest raid of its kind in the United States. Most of those arrested were Guatemalan and Mexican nationals who lived in the area.

Sunday's protesters - many arriving by bus from the Twin Cities and Chicago - circled the streets of Postville on a route about a mile long. Some clutched banners and signs such as one that read, "United for immigrant and worker rights."

Rabbi Harold Kravitz of the Adath Jeshurun Congregation in Minnetonka, Minnesota, spoke when the rally paused near the driveway of Agriprocessors, on the outskirts of town.

Shouting into a portable microphone, he said the protesters wanted to stop the criminalization of people who come to the U.S. simply to make a living.

"People have come here from Minneapolis, Wisconsin, Chicago, New York and New Jersey ... because we care," Kravitz said.

The rally also drew about 75 anti-immigration protesters.

Claire Jamison, who said she'd traveled from Minneapolis, wore a hat emblazoned with a U.S. Border Patrol logo and held a sign reading "What would Jesus do? Obey the law."

"I'm just so fed up as an American. We have laws. Why can't they obey our laws?" Jamison said. "I empathize with those people, but they are not victims. They should not have even been here."

Most of the nearly 300 undocumented workers arrested are serving five months sentences for identity theft, but some 40 women along with their 90 children are still living in Postville, awaiting a court date. Unable to work, the families are completely dependent on St. Bridget's Catholic church for food, rent money and medical care. Maria Cruz is one of those women.

"They took my husband and left me with my three sons and I can't work," Cruz said. "It makes you feel humiliated and we didn't do anything bad, the only thing we did was come here to work."

Cruz has to wear a tracking bracelet 24 hours a day and cannot leave Iowa until her case comes to trial. Maria also told CBS News that after the raid, her last paycheck was missing 20 hours of overtime and she was not paid for two weeks of vacation time she had earned - money she desperately needs now.

Two Agriprocessor managers are facing indictment for assisting plant workers get fake identity cards. Now the federal Labor Department is investigating the plant for child labor violations; the equal Employment Oppotunity Commision is looking into sexual harrasment charges; and lawyers for the immigrants are working on a lawsuit over wage and hour violations. And over the years, there have been repeated charges of safety violations.

"The line behind us was dangerous, it was all sharp knives," Cruz said.

"It was the dirtiest, unsafest plant I've ever been in," Father Ouderkirk said.

Many of Ouderkirk's parishioners worked at Agriprocessors. He has toured the plant and says workers there were routinely mistreated.

"We're dealing with them -- we've seen them -- the kid without three fingers and the one with his hand missing, and when I was a pastor here I took how many people to the doctor with cuts," Ouderkirk said.

Agriprocessors denies employing underage workers, and would not discuss any pending litigation, but says it has begun to make changes in the plant.

"We have hired a compliance officer, that was reported to everybody, and I'm not going to get into the details, but I think it was reported, many new and improved systems," said Chaim Abraham with Adriprocessors.

Still, that's not enough for Fr. Paul.

"They have a responsibility to this whole community that they never lived up to," Ouderkirk said. "They painted a good picture, but their actions spoke a different story."

[timdgrim]

"I would say we lost a good third of our people,"
*************** Come on down to Texas...we''ll probably drop a couple of million at least!

[loveusa2]

It is clear the citizens of Postville and the workers are standing in unison supporting Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Finding solutions to the current mess is the only positive way to move forward.

[moder12-2009]

As a citizen who''s grandfather was murdered by an illegal in Spanish Fork (who fled back to Mexico and has yet to be apprehended), Utah on January 31, 2008, it''s about time to round all of them up!

[susanhelit]

Look at that - proof the raids worked. The homeless were given jobs, because the illegals were no longer there taking the jobs away from them. How many fewer homeless would we have if we continued these raids, prosecuted the employers to the point they start actually hiring American citizens?

Yeah - poor lil illegal alien - you did nothing wrong but illegally cross our border, get fake IDs, take a job away from legal citizens, and then complain when caught that we''re insensitive. Simple answer - GO HOME!

[pisces2008]

Racism is alive and well in America, now quite out in the open under the guise of patriotism.

"Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so." How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar - Julius Caesar

[jsmithcsa]

So they''re unhappy that law-breakers have been arrested? Would they have been as unhappy if these people had broken another law.

The best way to reunite these families these Iowans are crying about is to send them back wherever they came from. Let them be happy together in Mexico, or China, or Africa. The American people -- including Iowans of course -- and I owe them nothing but a trip to the border.

[moder12-2009]

My grandfather, Albert Burns, was murdered by an illegal on January 31, 2008 in Spanish Fork, UT. It''s about time for the country to round ALL of these lawbreakers up and DEPORT THEM NOW! If you check the federal legal code, they are ALL criminals who have entered ILLEGALLY. How many of these supposed "victims" which CBS reported on have also stolen identities or are walking out of financial obligations to hospitals and schools -- or clogging up our criminal justice system???

[drivelphobe]

Maria Cruz says, "We didn''t do anything bad, the only thing we did was come here to work."

This is the deranged mentality of these people and all who support their illegal entry. They broke our immigration law but somehow think that doesn''t matter. I hope the whole town suffers for this. It''s good news to hear the owners of the company are getting their just desserts too. Everyone of these illegals should be deported and send a clear message that more of the same is coming. I can''t wait until we clean up Los ANgeles and the neighboring communities. Good work in Postville. Let''s get going on the rest of this country. Deport, deport and deport.

[cyberus-2009]

I''m a bit confused ... arresting hundreds of lawbreakers "hurts" a town?

If they arrested a marijuana grow op with hundreds of people involved would they be crying over lost income from the growers?

[deighter]

Looks like the ******** were happy working in dreadful conditions for slave wages..paid for by the Kosher Jews........ and the Jews were happy to have them as slave labor..... only in America!

[drivelphobe]

Pisces2008

None of this has one thing do do with racism and you know it. Illegals come in all types and they must all go. Just because the majority are Hispanic, is only a fact and nothing more. I suppose you think those of us who resent the presence of Muslims in this country are racists too? Get a grip. We are under attack by invasive, non-assimilating foreigners who want to kill us or take over our country, replace our language and destroy our culture and way of life.
They are the racists if any exist. Go read some more Caesar.

[maedean]

Get them out of here and keep them out of here.Send them back to Mexico were they belong.Why do people stick up for them and feel sorry for them when the goverment takes a stand to get them out of here.They are nasty people and we do not need them in the US.

[bozworth4]

Sounds like the whole town is breaking the law. Send the whole bunch to Texas. Including the Iowa folks! That ought to be enough punishment.

[roseanya]

DEPORT THEM ALL NOW, DON''T WAIT. WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE who lost their ID''s--who will be billed for tax penalty and interest for jobs they didn''t know they had?

It''s time the Catholic church lost tax exempt status for interferring in politics and encouraging law breaking.

[sheepdogger7]

One of the illegal workers in the story claimed they had done nothing wrong. Excuse me, but entering our country without legal status and using conterfeit documents is not only wrong, it begs for time in prison!

There is a double standard going on here. If I, as a American citizen were to be pulled over by a cop, and had forged ID documents, I''d be in prison. But if I was a Mexican citizen here illegally with those same docs, usually I would only be given a free ride home courtesy of the US taxpayer.

The employers should also get even stiffer penalties for betraying their fellow LEGAL workers out of jobs.
I''m sure the Father is happy for the homeless getting those jobs.

At the rate we are giving away our country, we will have no country in a few decades. We should seriously think about limiting all further immigration at least until we have a handle on just who the heck is here. All the farmland in my area is being bought up by muslims, can''t wait until they are the majority and vote in all muslim US goverment, can you? And why the #$%#$% are we allowing muslims to immigrate during a war on terror, when we can''t tell a good muslim from a radical jihadist?(until they start attacking).

[who-cares4]

See ,here go.Like this is the only situation like this in America?????Seems to me the mayor on down the line should be thrown in prison.I live in a city where its obvious these cockroaches are illegal but the law looks the other way,while spending millions to find pot growing,how stupid is THAT.But now it gets worse when you kick the dad out and leave the beaner mother with little beaners here,America still pays the price to care and feed them.KICK THEM ALL OUT WITH THE BIGGEST BOOT possible.Im so sick of this ***,if someone robs a bank and says "i did it for my family" would they get cut any slack,f--k NO,why do the beaners get that slack???Because other Americans are making a profit OFF them and they need to be thrown in JAIL TOO,from the Mayor on down.

[erikinct]

They are criminals. They stole ids. They want to claim sexual harrasment for what. The get automatic citizenship. Not getting paid for vacation. You are out of luck. If all these accidents were happening where was OSHA. They gave false information. Now the company will have to bleed to pay these workers. Pay the fines given by the feds and state offices. Wake up people if the used E-verify on their employees. All this would not be in the press. The country needs to wake up and make this a requirement.

[loveusa2]

Actually, an earlier article indicated they are looking to move some of the workers to a U type Work Visa. All should be glad they will now be in the country legally. It was Agriprocessors who solicited, hired and provided fake papers to the workers all so they could exploit and abuse them. Now they will be here legally on a Guest Worker Visa. All should be happy. Legal at last!!!

[loveusa2]

I think those risking all, striving for the American Dream are patriotic. Most of these folks were hired, provided false papers and exploited by Agriprocessors. Then when they tried to join a union, Agriprocessors, a big GOP PAC contributor, called in ICE who swept them to Cattle Barns. Despite that horrible treatment, they still long for the American Dream, even as Legal Guest Workers.
We should all pray for Peace in our country and the end to Hate and Anger.

[dan3232321]

I work for a company that provides certain services to many corporations around the country. There are some that obviously employ dozens if not hundreds of illegal aliens since I have personally seen many multiple social security numbers being used by employess of these companies. The company doesn''t care because the labor is cheap. My company doesn''t care because they get paid a fee per employee we serve. I have great concern that some of the SSN''s used by these multiple employees actually belong to some individual out there who has no clue or who is having their identity used and credit destroyed. These raids may hurt a small town and the company trying to fill the jobs is, hopefully, paying out hundreds of thousands in fines. These raids help the rest of the country, though. Foreign workers are great and they do a great deal to help our economy, but they should be here legally. If they are illegal, they need to go.

[loveusa2]

Ive read that even now, Agriprocessors uses a staffing company called Jacobson Staffing. Jacobson hired Bravo Labor Co. in McAllen TX (border town) to hire for Agriprocessors Postville plant. One of Bravo4s specialties is its ability to %u201Clower overhead, with inexpensive labor from South Texas and Mexico.%u201D Rather than improve their working conditions and pay livable wages, they seek Latino workers in Texas, legal or illegal. Agriprocessors should face Federal charges for their hiring practices, poor safety standards and their exploitation and abuse of workers. HOWEVER THE OWNERS, the RUBASHKINS, HAVE NOT BEEN CHARGED. THEY HUGE GOP PAC Contributors.

[loveusa2]

It is clear the citizens of Postville and the workers are standing in unison supporting Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Finding solutions to the current mess is the only positive way to move forward.

[coco0331]

That plant should be shut down, they knew exactly what they were doing. They wouldn''t want to set up anywhere where they could get American help, then they would have to be responsible. Big fine time!!

[loveusa2]

As I said, I think those risking all, striving for the American Dream are patriotic. Most of these folks were hired, provided false papers and exploited by Agriprocessors. Then when they tried to join a union, Agriprocessors, a big GOP PAC contributor, called in ICE who swept them to Cattle Barns. Despite that horrible treatment, they still long for the American Dream, even as Legal Guest Workers.
We should all pray for Peace in our country and the end to Hate and Anger.

[cyberus-2009]

----
One of the illegal workers in the story claimed they had done nothing wrong. Excuse me, but entering our country without legal status and using conterfeit documents is not only wrong, it begs for time in prison!

There is a double standard going on here. If I, as a American citizen were to be pulled over by a cop, and had forged ID documents, I''''d be in prison. But if I was a Mexican citizen here illegally with those same docs, usually I would only be given a free ride home courtesy of the US taxpayer.
(*snipped for length*)
Posted by sheepdogger7
----

Thats a good point about the double standard .. I wonder what would happen if I were to be caught in Mexico with forged documents identifying me as a Mexican citizen?

[jbp1998]

The people of Postville will able to thank their lucky stars that this raid happened when it did in about 10 to 15 years. They haven''t seen or lived the plight of native Californians, Texans, Arizonians and other states who deliberately turned a blind eye to the illegal aliens and the companies who hired them, because as in Postville, many in these states didn''t think it was so bad, because "these people only came here to work." What we didn''t see was they also came here to commit fraud, take advantage of American taxpayers, not assimilate and then have the audacity to DEMAND MORE after raising their children to disrespect the laws and people of the USA, to lie and to become members of gangs that now are as much terrorists as Al Qaida or Hammas!

Face it, ICE did you guys a favor! No matter what the Catholic Church says, they''re just worried that the donation plates will go dry. They''re just another entity along with big corporations who take advantage of illegal aliens and their families.

[deighter]

Looks like the ******** were happy working in dreadful conditions for slave wages..paid for by the Kosher Jews........ and the Jews were happy to have them as slave labor..... only in America! And there''s the butt-buggering Catholic church giving the illegals food and help...what a mess. why aren''t all the Jews in NYC offering to send planeloads of Kosher hot dogs to help feed these poor ***? Send them all to Iraq, owners and workers alike...

[4avocats]

Why does deporting hundreds of illegals "harm" the town? Why do the citizens and legal residents of the town say? And it''s great that the Catholic Church is taking care of those left behind while they await deportation--the Church encourages illegals to come here--knowing that they will be exploited--and then complains that they are exploited. The Church dictates that they have child after child regardless of their ability to support a family. If the Church wants all these illegal immigrnats here, let the Church spend some of its billions to house, feed and educate them. (I''m a Catholic. The Church''s hypocrisy is breathtaking.)

[4avocats]

To LoVE USA:
Why were you not concerned when the American citizens and legal residents who were union members 20 years ago and had these jobs lost them? Illegal immigrants were used to break tghe unions then, and now they--the illegals--want the union''s protection? We should all pray for people to comply with our laws.

[brittanicus-2009]

Pro-illegal alien groups, plus the special interest lobby may have protested in Postville, Iowa? But that statement is narrowly focused, because the Internet is electrically alive, with bloggers and countless numbers of people who are demanding that ICE carry out it''s duties. They want even more internal agents to strengthen the enforcement squads and raid any large business that''s under suspicion.

Americans do not have to demonstrate, because this is their nation. Illegal aliens demanding rights just infuriates Americans more, as they wave flags and banners demanding rights.

Read the uncensored facts at NUMBERSUSA

[jbp1998]

(QUOTE)I work for a company that provides certain services to many corporations around the country. There are some that obviously employ dozens if not hundreds of illegal aliens since I have personally seen many multiple social security numbers being used by employess of these companies. The company doesn''''t care because the labor is cheap. My company doesn''''t care because they get paid a fee per employee we serve. I have great concern that some of the SSN''''s used by these multiple employees actually belong to some individual out there who has no clue or who is having their identity used and credit destroyed......(QUOTE)
Posted by dan3232321 at 09:52 PM : Jul 27, 2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


YOU should lose YOUR JOB and be arrested for knowingly letting Social Security numbers being used "multiple times" go through the system like that without reporting it to ICE! YOU AND YOUR COMPANY ARE AN ACCESSORY TO FRAUD on the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT! AND YOU ARE AN ambarrassment to the American people for NOT doing the Right thing by REPORTING THIS fraud to ICE!

[sal-magnone]

Despite what was written above by a poster - UNIONs are far more likely to call INS or the police. Often workers in these factory refuse to join unions because of their status. When the vote goes bad for the union, they make the call.

Regardless of whether or not the owners exploited the illegals - the illegals broke the law. When you take something that you are not legally entitled to it''s theft.

[edintex]

Its just TERRIBLE that after the raid, Agriprocessors had to resort to hiring homeless AMERICANS from Texas. Isn''t that such a terrible thing to have to do?

That business should be sued out of existence by the children who worked there! Oh i''ll bet the attorneys are already preparing the paperwork. GO GET EM BOYS !!!!!

[deighter]

Dear Meat-Packing Slave Owning Jews,
My wife, Tabuli, and our 7 children and 4 uncles and 6 aunts and 11 Elders would like to escape our refugee tent here in Dafur. We all would love to work in your meat factory -- even little Falafal, she is only 7!! We will all work for 10 US dollars a day! All of us! You dont need those Mexicans! Please reply to this email, and I will tell you where to send the steamship tickets! God bless you and President Bush, the best president ever!
Shalom,
Abdul Al Hashish

[txgrouch2006]

Unsafe working conditions - child labor - exploited immigrants

IT''S THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION ALL OVER AGAIN.

Welcome to GLOBALIZATION and FREE TRADE. And BTW, if you were born here, YOU NEED NOT APPLY.

All we need now are a few epidemics to start killing babies, and we''ll be back in the 1880''s.

CHEAPER IS BETTER, FOLKS???

[edintex]

Shalom,
Abdul Al Hashish
Posted by deighter at 10:33 PM : Jul 27, 2008

You forgot the part where they ask you to send money to a bank account before they leave their country!!!

[sistatee-2009]

"This has not created anything good for the community," said Father Paul Ouderkirk, a former pastor at St. Bridget''s Church "

But 300 illegals stealing the identity of law abiding citizens DID create something good for the community? Aye laddie, did ya forget ta mention a bit a that?

[deighter]

The headline should have read:
JEWISH MEAT PLANT OWNER HIRES HUNDREDS OF ILLEGALS BUT IS NOT CHARGED
Subhead:
Hundreds of Poor Families are Punished

[Meg003]

You can tell reading this that no one really wins when our immigration laws are violated. The workers are mistreated. Wages are depressed. Honest businesses have to compete with the dishonest ones, paying U.S.citizens decent wages under better working conditions.

[mattcbsmatt]

Another pro-illegal activity, pro-illegal immigration, pro-amnesty from Mexico Butt licker like President Bush.
They are not fooling me.
Why would a US President Bush promote and advertise the illegal activity of illegal immigration from MEXICO?
I fear that other candidates will po the same.
I guess they are afraid of something.
Even though there is a hint in the phrase illegal immigration. : )

[maiingan]

The illegal alien quoted should be taught that coming here in violation of our immigration laws, regardless of intent, is "bad." So maybe ICE should take those Jews who run this plant and have taken it back to "The Jungle," and send them to Mexico along with the illegal aliens they hired. Seems like a good match.

[loveusa2]

It is clear the citizens of Postville and the workers are standing in unison supporting Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Finding solutions to the current mess is the only positive way to move forward.

[haoli25]

And the good news is....

The meat that was processed at this plant probably had salmonella and TB in it too. Thanks illegals...nothing but love for you...nasty b@stards!

[loveusa2]

I think those risking all, striving for the American Dream are patriotic. Most of these folks were hired, provided false papers and exploited by Agriprocessors. Then when they tried to join a union, Agriprocessors, a big GOP PAC contributor, called in ICE who swept them to Cattle Barns. Despite that horrible treatment, they still long for the American Dream, even as Legal Guest Workers.
We should all pray for Peace in our country and the end to Hate and Anger.

[rudy654-2009]

And the good news is....

The meat that was processed at this plant probably had salmonella and TB in it too. Thanks illegals...nothing but love for you...nasty b@stards!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by haoli25 at 11:05 PM

I love you white trash bastaards. I hope they get all the illegals out of the country and the rest of your azzes back to work in the poultry plants and fields. I hope they cut your trailor white trash welfare for beer and food stamps.

[formrusmcsgt]

nothing but love for you...nasty b@stards!

Posted by haoli25 at 11:05 PM : Jul 27, 2008

Spoken like a true xenophobe.....

[loveusa2]

All of the angry, profane posters should reflect on their own lives and how fortunate we are to live in America. Pray for Peace and the end to hate. Postville and the workers are standing in unison supporting Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Finding solutions to the current mess is the only positive way to move forward.

[hungry1968]

"It was the largest single immigration raid in the country. There were 700 warrants and 300 arrests. Agriprocessors, a kosher meatpacking plant, lost three quarters of its workforce, reports CBS Evening News correspondent Russ Mitchell. And tiny Postville, Iowa lost one out of every three of its residents."





I''ve said it a hundred times, and I''ll say it a hundred more:

The laws should be changed, so that when an illegal alien is being employed, the PERSON that hired him / CEO / immediate supervisor, whatever, should be sentenced to ONE YEAR in prison, and a $100,000 fine, per illegal alien.



The MINUTE this law was passed, the illegal immigration problem would end.

[edintex]

We should all pray for Peace in our country and the end to Hate and Anger.
Posted by loveusa2 at 11:08 PM : Jul 27, 2008

Yes, lets all gather round and sing kumbaya as we watch the illegal alien CHILDREN work 17 hours with no overtime pay or safety training to boot.

You know, there IS a reason this company contracted with a Texas border job shop to provide workers. It was NOT done to find "qualified" people.

There is already a "comprehensive" system to allow immigrants to come to America and become citizens. New citizens are sworn in daily. We allow a certain number of foreigners from each country to come in an ORDERLY fashion every year. That is the system. They MUST LIVE WITHING OUR SYSTEM, no matter what you bleeding heart libs think.

[formrusmcsgt]

Finding solutions to the current mess is the only positive way to move forward.

Posted by loveusa2 at 11:15 PM : Jul 27, 2008

Agreed.

I see immigrnts everyday doing work that Americans won''t.

What needs to be done is set a realistic quota on immigrants who perform such labor and, in return require Mexico to do their part regarding patrolling the border.