Some Call Postville Sentencing Unfairby Cristina Frank
KIMT News 3
Waterloo, IA--Federal prosecutors say they have now sentenced 85 people arrested in last week's immigration raid. They are part of a group of nearly 400 people arrested at the Agriprocessors plant in Postville, Iowa.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says it's the largest number of defendants to plead guilty and be sentenced in one day. A majority of them admitted to using false identification to get employment. They were sentenced to five months months in prison and face deportation.

The North Iowa District U.S. Attorney's Office says since there are so many people arrested in the Postville immigration raid, they needed a quick way to to get them through the courts.

Working with the U.S. Department of Justice, those people went through an early disposition program. That's why these immigrants will spend about five months in jail. But some in our area say even this fast-track program is not fair.

"I think it's unfair. Especially because, the economical factor it's very important for this nation, so you know, if they're taking away 300 persons, I don't think they're gonna find that 300 persons very easily," Centro Campesino Executive Director Victor Contreras said. "Immigration is in Albert Lea, Austin, Faribault, Dodge Center but what I'll say is, immigration agents always planting, terrorizing our communities."

Since the raid in Postville, Centro Campesino says they have heard from a lot of people in the area about worries over current immigration laws. Centro Campesino's Executive Director says federal changes need to be made for immigrants.









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