Repercussions of immigration raid felt far beyond Iowa

Published: 2008-05-23

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- An immigration raid May 12 in Iowa may have taken place in tiny Postville, but its repercussions are being felt as far away as Washington and Guatemala. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided the Agriprocessors meat processing plant in Postville, arresting 389 people, most whom are Guatemalan, and ultimately charging 304 of them with felony criminal counts such as possessing a false ID. The remaining 85 were charged with civil immigration violations and released "for humanitarian purposes" such as caring for their young children. By the next week, members of Congress were holding hearings about the effects of workplace raids on families and calling on ICE personnel to explain elements of such raids. The Guatemalan government was decrying treatment of its citizens as human rights violations. In Iowa, churches stepped in to help families affected by the arrests. At St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Postville, some families, afraid to go home, stayed in the church around the clock in the days immediately following the raid. There, and at churches of various denominations, volunteers provided meals, legal advice, comfort and support.

Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .