--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Article published: May 14, 2008
Human toll told in Postville

POSTVILLE An Agriprocessors employee has returned to Postville after being detained by federal agents following the raid at the world's largest kosher meatpacking plant on Monday. But she fears her husband has been deported, leaving her and her two children behind.

The woman, fearing retribution, asked that her name not be used. She is wearing an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet so immigration officials can monitor her whereabouts. She was released for humanitarian reasons so she could care for her children, ages 9 and 12.

Through an interpreter, the 29-year-old woman said she and her husband came to Postville three years ago from Guatemala, seeking a better life. They have no other family in town and financially support their parents, who are unable to work, in Guatemala.

Her plight — and that of hundreds of others — prompted Postville community leaders to hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon at St. Bridget's Catholic Church.

Sister Mary McCauley, pastoral administrator at St. Bridget's, said others need to know the pain and anxiety of the families so U.S. immigration laws can be changed to allow more people, like those who made Postville their home, to live in the United States legally.VIDEO: Sister McCauley on immigration raid
A woman serving as an interpreter at the church, crowded with Latinos and media, said she has tried for seven years to get U.S. citizenship, an effort that has cost $12,000. Fearing retaliation or loss of her job, she wouldn't give her name or her country of origin, but a colleague confirmed she has a master's degree and works in a positive role between Hispanics and English-speaking professionals.

Getting U.S. citizenship, she said, "is very, very difficult."

The 29-year-old meatpacking employee said she thinks it's an injustice that she is unable to communicate with her husband. She said she once saw Postville as peaceful and tranquil. "Now all that is gone," she said, tears falling on the hands that were held by one of her friends in this town.

Paul Rael, director of Hispanic ministry at St. Bridget's, spoke in defense of the Latinos who have labored for years at Agriprocessors.

"Go home tonight and look what's on the table and look at who help put it on the table," he said.

He suggested work permits might be a start toward legalizing illegal immigrants.

The 29-year-old Agriprocessors female worker said, "If we leave these positions, they won't find other people to work these jobs. The conditions are bad, but we do it because we don't have any other options. The pay is not good enough for the work we do, but we want a better future for our kids."

In their home country of Guatemala, the economy in their city was so poor their only wages came from selling crafts — bringing in maybe $50 per month.

"The only thing we did was come here to realize a dream," the woman said. "We can't go back to Guatemala because of the unrest there."

Because they have lived in the United States, they would be seen as wealthy and could likely be kidnapped in a city where life already is insecure, she said through the interpreter.

Until the woman was returned to Postville, her children stayed at St. Bridget's. After her release, she said, government officials told her they would send someone to her apartment to inform her of a court date.

A fund has been established for those wishing to contribute: St. Bridget's Hispanic Fund, P.O. Box 369, Postville, IA 52162, in care of Sister Mary McCauley.

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

http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs. ... /1006/news