Immigration Raid Hurts Small Iowa Town (1 in 3 Swept Up In The Nation's Largest Immigration Raid)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/27/eveningnews/main4297966.shtml

One Out Of Three Residents Swept Up In The Nation's Largest Immigration Raid

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Postville, Iowa, July 27, 2008


(CBS) 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."

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."


FULL story and video at link.

Immigration Raid Upturns Town

Hundreds rallied to protest the immigration raid in Postville, Iowa that upturned the small town. Most of the nearly 300 undocumented workers arrested will serve jail time. Russ Mitchell reports. | Share/Embed

now that they will have to hire people they actually have to pay taxes on, and maybe give them healthcare, etc.

And my neighbor who exports kosher meat to Europe might not make enough to sail his yacht this summer through the Great Lakes for three months like usual.