Immigration Officials Raid Iowa Meatpacking Plant, Detaining Hundreds [View All]

My heart sank when I heard about the immigration raids that happened this afternoon in Postville, a small NE Iowa town. More than 300 people have been arrested so far and are being detained at the National Cattle Congress in Waterloo, which was leased by Homeland Security at the beginning of the month. Aides to Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) have said they've been told around 600-700 people are expected to be arrested.

Living in Marshalltown, where immigration raids took place back in December 2006, I have seen the effects of immigration raids firsthand. I feel for the children and families of those detained and the community of Postville.

The raid today in Postville will likely devastate the local economy. Marshalltown has a population 10 times larger than Postville. In the Marshalltown raid, nearly 100 people were arrested, while many more people are expected to be arrested in Postville.

The effects in the small community won't just be financially. The emotional damage from having fathers, mothers, grandpas, grandmas, and cousins being detained miles from home at a site designed to hold cattle will last generations.