about 400 of 1000 employees of the Agriprocessors meat packing plant -- the largest Kosher slaughterhouse in the country, BTW -- were rounded up and taken away; as of Friday, about 300 of them had been "processed," given quick hearings where they pleaded guilty to using false documents and were sentenced to 5 months in captivity and immediate deportation.

Only 100 more to go. But then, this is only one raid.

It's devastated the community.

Postville community working to recover from last week's immigration raid at Agriprocessors

by Sharon Drahn

Postville Herald-Leader

With red ribbons tied to the street lamp posts as well as to the entrance of St. Bridget Catholic Church, it is obvious that the community of Postville has once again banded together to show its solidarity in the time of need. Following last Monday's raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials (I. C. E.) at Agriprocessors, hundreds of Hispanics took refuge at St. Bridget Church where they felt safe.

The federal raid which took place last Monday was the largest such operation in one location in Iowa and, perhaps, in the nation. Initially, the women workers were taken to county jails and the men were taken to a temporary detention center at the National Cattle Congress in Waterloo. Most have been moved to jails around the state following their initial appearance.

I.C.E. agents, who entered Agriprocessors with nearly 700 arrest warrants for plant employees, actually arrested nearly 400 workers. The complaints charged aggravated identify theft, fraudulent use of Social Security numbers and other crimes. Although the plant has been running on a limited basis since Tuesday, it shut down temporarily after the raid Monday.

Those employees of the facility with proper documentation were taken to the cafeteria along with those who had no paperwork. Those working legally, however, had to produce their paperwork before being released. Workers who were arrested were put on Homeland Security buses and transported to Waterloo at the Cattle Congress grounds. Federal judges and other court officials were relocated to Waterloo to handle court appearances. Forty-four workers were released under supervision, mostly because they are primary caregivers to children.

...

The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa condemned the raid, saying those arrested were not getting proper legal counsel and were being rushed through legal proceedings. After a 10-minute court appearance, the first ten men to face charges were led away by U.S. Marshals. Preliminary hearings, it was noted, will be held May 28 in Cedar Rapids.

Meanwhile, area religious leaders, especially at St Bridget Church in Postville, have done everything in their power to get relief to those affected by the raid. Workers have offered financial aid and other support to those directly affected by the raid. ...hundreds of frightened immigrants spent several nights on cots and in the pews at St. Bridget's church. As St. Bridget's was filled to overflowing, many more immigrants were housed at Community Presbyterian Church as well. Bishop Steve Ullestad of the American Lutheran Church, who graduated from Postville High School in 1971 while his father was Pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church, questioned the impact of the raid as it affected the entire community.

Archbishop Jerome Hanus of the Archdiocese of Dubuque ... asked that officials more adequately address the demand for labor and the inadequacies of our present immigration policies. "Some of the weakest members among us are bearing the brunt of the suffering, while legislators and other leaders have failed to give the issue any priority."

Along with providing food and shelter for the immigrants, the church has provided a constant source of support for immigrants and their families... A list of detainees is posted at the entrance to the church.

...

... children went as long as 72 hours without seeing their parents, not knowing or understanding where they were. Religious leaders are working with the Postville residents to help them recover both physically, spiritually and emotionally from the raid's impact. School leaders, too... have worked with families to help them feel safe in the school environment.

...The City office released the following statement on Friday, May 17: "The City of Postville is taking a proactive role in utilizing all resources available to support the welfare and safety of all its residents within our community. We are doing our best to serve and support the organizations and entities providing aid to people in need. We are maintaining law and order during these difficult times.

"We encourage residents to return to their homes and move forward as a community together. Anyone wishing to donate funds to the "City of Postville Relief Fund" may drop off or send to: Citizens State Bank, 100 N Lawler, P. O. Box 190, Postville, Iowa 52162 or FreedomBank, 135 W. Tilden, P. O. Box 130, Postville, Iowa, 52162.

...

(More at link)

http://tinyurl.com/66xxko

I cannot read that story without pulling my hair out and screaming, as I'm sure would be the case with your daughter. But I will bet you most Americans have no idea whatsoever that this sort of thing is going on in this country, and even if they did, they would probably 1)do nothing about it; or 2) cheer it on.

That's the situation we face.

I'm very glad your daughter is trying to do something. The people of Postville are doing what they can under the circumstances. But the point is, these raids are going on, in Iowa and many places besides. People are being hauled off, held, and then disposed of. The immigrants get a ten minute hearing, go to jail, and then they are gone. Bye-bye.

And every time Chertoff crows his triumph -- he's creepily disgusting about it -- more immigrants panic, more Americans of all hues and ethnicities hunker down.

Let's not forget, the Government is arguing in court right now that what it is doing to these people, and what it has been doing to designated so-called "enemy combatants", it can do to you.

So long as the People don't resist, you can bet the Government isn't going to back off, either.

supervisor of a non-prophet organization

So I take it that it's not a faith-based charity? :>

Seriously, good for your daughter. I've been working overseas for non-profits for the past several years, I'm currently on a sabbatical, and I have a lot of harsh words for that sector ... but there's also lots of great work being done out there by earnest people motivated to do something positive (and my joke notwithstanding, also a lot of good work being done by Christian charities that don't really get their due).