Thread: Update: Hundreds of arrests predicted at Iowa ICE raid

Update: ICE describes raid as 'largest in Iowa history'
By NIGEL DUARA, WILLIAM PETROSKI and GRANT SCHULTE • REGISTER STAFF WRITERS • May 12, 2008

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Postville, Ia. – At least 300 people were arrested today at the Agriprocessors, Inc. meat packing plant, federal officials said.

The operation, which targeted people who illegally used other persons Social Security numbers and were in the U.S. illegally, was the largest of its kind in Iowa, said Claude Arnold, a special agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The workers arrested so far were interviewed by agents with the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Public Health Service. Public health officials were included to ensure that their humanitarian needs were being met, said U.S. District Attorney Matt M. Dummermuth.

Authorities have released 40 of the arrested employees “on humanitarian groundsâ€

Apparently more going on than what appears on the surface.............

Union had asked authorities not to raid plant

By WILLIAM PETROSKI and NIGEL DUARA • Register Staff Writers • May 12, 2008

A union trying to organize Postville meatpacking workers had asked federal immigration authorities earlier this month not to raid the Agriprocessors Inc. plant while a government investigation was underway of possible labor law violations.

Mark Lauritsen, international vice president of the United Food and Commercial Workers, wrote a May 2 letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, advising officials of an ongoing labor dispute at the Postville plant.

Lauritsen said he was concerned that any potential ICE action could have a "chilling effect" on the existing workforce which has reported some Agriprocessors’ workplace violations in the past. In addition, ICE action could result in employees leaving the plant, interfering with a government investigation that would “ultimately uncover unscrupulous employer acts,â€

A union trying to organize Postville meatpacking workers had asked federal immigration authorities earlier this month not to raid the Agriprocessors Inc. plant while a government investigation was underway of possible labor law violations[quote]

This is why i care not for Union anymore . They like most Elected Officials have lost there way . Shock Waves across the land from this "Bust". Great job ICE and keep up the good work ,deport now with no return ticket !
if your ILLEGAL you broke our law of the land . It's terriable we gave them NAFTA (must of our good jobs). And still they flood us with Illegals. Driven by the Mexican government . NAFTA doesn't work nor does the Mexican government

The Des Moines Register has a discussion form on "Immigration raids in Iowa" posted at 5/12/2008 11:03 AM CDT on Des Moines Register

located at:
Link

Most favor the raid. This is a post in opposition:

Re: Immigration raids in Iowa
posted at 5/12/2008 2:26 PM CDT on Des Moines Register

EmilioChavez
First post: 5/12/2008
Last post: 5/12/2008
Total posts: 1 These Gestapo raids should be stopped before the relations between Mexico and the U.S. are poisoned by the racist policies designed to repress the free movement of the indigenous peoples throughout the Americas. White people are going to reap their own deadly harvest when the rightful owners the land finally rise up to reclaim what is theirs. Beware the day of revenge that is coming before it's too late. No people will be held down forever. We are coming and you will not and can not stop us. Get out of the way.

Originally Posted by MyAmerica

The Des Moines Register has a discussion form on "Immigration raids in Iowa" posted at 5/12/2008 11:03 AM CDT on Des Moines Register

located at:
Link

Most favor the raid. This is a post in opposition:

Re: Immigration raids in Iowa
posted at 5/12/2008 2:26 PM CDT on Des Moines Register

EmilioChavez
First post: 5/12/2008
Last post: 5/12/2008
Total posts: 1 These Gestapo raids should be stopped before the relations between Mexico and the U.S. are poisoned by the racist policies designed to repress the free movement of the indigenous peoples throughout the Americas. White people are going to reap their own deadly harvest when the rightful owners the land finally rise up to reclaim what is theirs. Beware the day of revenge that is coming before it's too late. No people will be held down forever. We are coming and you will not and can not stop us. Get out of the way.

That old Des Moines Register .Strange people post there imo . During the primarys i posted for Tancredo and then Hunter a lot on that rag . Those people seem to love their Illegals
But a darn good link to see how the other side thinks .

She said rumors began swirling around the community on Friday about an upcoming raid, leaving many people worried. She said Immigration officials arrived with buses, vans and two helicopters.

She said she went to the plant to help provide information and assist workers but was not allowed to get close.

"Some of the people that are going to be detained are up against a fence and now they're tying their hands," she said.

Many of the plant workers are Hispanic, mostly from Mexico and Guatemala, she said.

Agriprocessors is the world's largest kosher meatpacking plant.

They knew something was up on Friday, may be why so many stayed home today and they arrested only 300.

ICE notebook: Buses leave Postville plant

REGISTER STAFF • May 12, 2008

Buses, presumably full of detainees, have started to leave the Postville plant, headed toward Waterloo. Each bus has a state patrol squad car in front and behind.

ICE spokesman Harold Ort said the agency will be at the Postville plant "as long as it takes."

Dozens of ICE agents and state troopers have been blocking entrances to the plant.

Ort said he didn’t know the gender mix or nationalities of the people being taken. He said they’re trying to do it has humanely as possible.

"ICE is absolutely committed to treating people humanely and doing the right thing but we’re also committed to enforcing the letter of the law." — Tony Leys


Rumors fly about more raids
Rumors are flying in Waterloo, Storm Lake, Marshalltown and elsewhere that there will be more raids at local businesses – or that they’re already taking place.
All appeared to be unfounded.

The criminal and civil warrants were issued in Postville today, said Barbara Gonzalez, an ICE spokeswoman from Miami who is in Waterloo this week.

"The arrests are based on intelligence and investigative leads, so I think that dispels those rumors," she said.

Word flashed through the Waterloo immigrant community that businesses such as Tyson Food, Inc. or Kaiser Contract Cleaning were under raid today. Officials for both companies said that’s not true, and that they know of no pending raid.

Other false rumors kept people from going to local stores because they heard ICE would be there asking shoppers for identification.

"We don’t conduct random arrests," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said she is trying her best to soothe some of the fears.

"We’re trying to stop the rumors and communicate with the public what is true and what is not," she said. "Again, we were at Postville today."

ICE officials have spoken with Waterloo’s mayor, school superintendent and officials from nonprofit groups so that information gets out “in the appropriate way,â€

Don`t release a one of them . 46 % of our illegals are visa overstays .
ICE can go by their home and grab the kids and bring them to south Texas , we have a place just for " family`s .

May 12, 2008, 5:13PM
Hundreds arrested in Iowa immigration raid


By HENRY C. JACKSON Associated Press Writer
© 2008 The Associated Press

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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Federal immigration agents raided a northeastern Iowa meat processing plant Monday, arresting more than 300 people and housing many of them at a converted fairgrounds.

The raid of the Agriprocessors Inc. plant in Postville was the largest in state history and had been planned for months, said U.S. Attorney Matt M. Dummermuth.

The raid, one of several conducted at meat-processing plants around the country in recent years, was aimed at seeking evidence of identity theft, stolen Social Security numbers and people who are in the country illegally, ICE spokesman Tim Counts said.

Authorities arrived at the Agriprocessors plant about 10 a.m. and presented company officials with search warrants. Agents asked to speak with all the employees, and plant officials cooperated and shut down their operations.

Agriprocessors, the world's largest kosher meatpacking plant, did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Of those arrested, 44 were released for humanitarian reasons, primarily because they must care for children. They were ordered to report to court later.

Others arrested were held in local jails or driven by bus about 75 miles to temporary housing at the National Cattle Congress fairgrounds in Waterloo. Federal authorities previously leased the fairgrounds and have turned it into a secure center.

Sister Mary McCauley, a Roman Catholic nun at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Postville, said family members of plant workers came to the nearby church in tears after immigration agents arrived in buses, vans and two helicopters.

"The people right now are hearing and seeing the helicopters," McCauley said Monday morning. "They are just panic-stricken and very frightened and some of them are coming to the church as a safe haven."

McCauley said she went to the plant to help provide information and assist workers but was not allowed to get close.

"Some of the people that are going to be detained are up against a fence and now they're tying their hands," she said.

Many of the plant workers are Hispanic, mostly from Mexico and Guatemala, she said.

Counts, the ICE spokesman, said a toll-free telephone number had been set up to assist family members of those arrested who have questions about their detention status and the removal process.

Asked about the raid during a Monday news conference, Gov. Chet Culver said both illegal immigrants and companies that knowingly hire them should be prosecuted.

"Illegal means illegal, not just those who are crossing the border illegally but those who are responsible for helping to make it happen," Culver said. He added that it is also important to consider humanitarian concerns and had raised those issue with immigration authorities.

The governor said he'd been told last week there would be some kind of federal action.


Associated Press writers Michael Crumb, Mike Glover and David Pitt in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.




http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/ ... 73616.html

BINGO!

Remember my post of May 7th
http://www.alipac.us/ftopic-114622-0-da ... rasc-.html



There is a DHS Press conference(Video) at the link above
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/p ... S/80512012