Postville… Postville, IA. A small town in Iowa now well known- not for flood or tornado damage but, according to the May 12, 2008 Des Moines Register, as the site of “the largest work place raid in Iowa history. “(Now the “largest workplace immigration raid in U.S. history.” DM Sunday Register, July 27, 2008 )
Postville with a population estimated to be 2,000 in July of 2006. The home of Agriprocessors Inc.
Much information has been in the news about the raid, strong feelings for and against what U. S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement did on that May 12 day and what has happened in the ten weeks following the raid. Reading accounts in the newspapers and hearing reports on the radio leaves me with a wide variety of thoughts and emotions. As readers of this post, I would imagine that you would have strong feelings as well. My intent here is not to debate but to point out two observations.
#1. In the Monday, July 28 DM Register article “More than 1,000 Midwesterners unite to back immigrant workers”, I learned that of the 1,000 demonstrators , which included ‘hundreds of people bused in from Chicago and Minneapolis areas’, there were ‘about 100 counter-protesters’. State troopers and police kept the two groups separate.
Okay- we would not want anything to happen with such an even distribution of demonstrators! But it was the last two paragraphs that said a lot to me.
“The Rev. Paul Ouderkirk, who ministers at St. Bridget’s (Catholic Church), said he was surprised by the counter-protesters.”
“I don’t see what the purpose is,” he said. “Why would they protest a peaceful demonstration? They must not have much to do.”
“They must not have much to do.” Tell me, Rev. Ouderkirk, with people bused in from near and far, guess your group didn’t have much to do but to take the scenic route to rural Iowa to rally for something they believe to be unjust and unfair. Are you forgetting that this is America and that two sides of any issue can be in the same Iowa town, especially when there are state troopers and police to keep everyone safe? Did not the ‘100 counter-protestors’ have the equal right to express their strong views about the illegal immigration and labor issues that have been so often in the news?
#2. According to the (Cedar Rapids) “Gazette Online”, members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus were to visit Postville on Sunday, July 27. They wanted to talk to residents about the impact of the May 12 raid of Agriprocessors.
The article states that “Fourth District U.S. Rep. Tom Latham, whose district includes the plant” would not be part of the visit but he “has met with Hispanic caucus member Rep. Luis Gutierrez to give him a “primer” on the community – the history, the diversity, how it’s changed, according to staff member James Carstensen.”
According to Carstensen “Anytime a congressman from outside the state takes an interest in Iowa, it’s beneficial.”
Yes, it surely is beneficial when according to the Gazette article Gutierrez, a Chicago Democrat, believes that “the raid signaled an unwelcome shift in immigration policy.”
I seriously hope, Rep. Tom Latham, that you gave Rep. Gutierrez an accurate and well-informed update on what Iowans think about the events in Postville. I, for one, will be interested in what you had to say to a Chicago Democrat about Postville, Iowa.
Filed under: Politics, callmecrusader | Tagged: Agriprocessors, immigration, Luis Gutierrez, Paul Ouderkirk, Postville, Raid, Tom Latham
What really irritates me about this situation is that these imbeciles completely ignore the fact that these illegal immigrants violated the law of our nation.
As for the Chicago Democrat. Mr. Gutierrez get a stinking life. This is a welcome shift in our immigration policy. Finally the government is enforcing the law.
As Americans we feel the need to welcome and rally around those who struggle. Then there are those who make us feel guilty if we want to follow our laws when it may “hurt”. For months on the presidential debates, etc, illegal immigration was the hot topic. “Build a fence.” “Make them come in the front door”. We knew it would be costly to deport 1,000s and that they would just get back in the way they came.
What happened to the factory owners? Did they get fined or shut down? They are as much law breakers. Jobs like that should pay very well with benefits. I’d think Americans would fill those positions but if it doesn’t pay well then owners find those who will (illegally) work. Glad they are wanting to work but just do it the legal way and owners need to pay and we pay more for their product but less for the cost of medical, education, etc.
Nice blog. Hope to read more comments.
The law must be enforced. It would be easy to be a bleeding heart in the illegal immigrants argument, but one must also think of those who are waiting to get into US the legal way. How is that fair to them if we do not punish the ones who break the law? Too many times in our society we give a slap on the wrist to those who break the law, and by doing so we are snubbing our noses at those who work hard to follow the rules.
I work to do a job that not everyone could or would do but I feel I receive adequate pay, great benefits, and do the work in good working conditions.
It seems in this case with Agriprocessors, there is more than enough suffering to go around. If the factory offered the pay, benefits etc. that were appropriate for the work, then why would not local people want to work there? When bills need to be paid, health care benefits are so important, AND according to some of our Republican legislative leaders, the cost of gas is such a concern, then why aren’t local Iowans wanting a job close to home?
I smell a bunch of rats at Agriprocessors.
The illegal immigrants working in the plant broke the law by being in the U.S.
Many of them who were here illegally (or are here still–since I believe they are now in jail in the U.S.) have also been accused of identity theft. If they are proved guilty of this fraud, then it means they have broken one more law.
If media reports are true, Agriprocessers Inc. was also breaking laws, specifically those concerning rate of pay and length of working hours. Not to mention there are even allegations (not yet proved) by illegal immigrants of neglect and cruelty in the workplace.
We need to encourage our friends from Chicago to use the K.I.S.S. approach. This is not about emotion or prejudice or what side of the political fence anybody is on. Quite simply, all this is about is THE LAW OF THE LAND.
The solution is to send home any immigrant who is proved to be here illegally and shut down any company that is breaking the law by hiring an illegal.
Several weeks ago I was stopped by city police for driving 30 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour zone.
While I only got a warning, I certainly have slowed down and pay attention to the posted signs.
Reading this post and the comments has made me think about laws. Which ones do we obey? As a citizen of an Iowa town is it more important for me to obey the laws than it is for a large business in another town?
And while I am at it, are the ministers, priest, rabbis the only ones that can interpert the Bible? If religion is brought into the discussion, then what about the sins of the Agriprocessor business?
This whole situation is a mess. Iowa could be a leader in how the rules are enforced. We have spoken and do not need bus loads of people coming to Iowa to tell us how to think and feel.
I will be paying more attention to how the elected officials in Iowa are assisting to follow the rules (laws).
It was not fun to see red lights in my rear view window, but I was speeding and had to endure the discomfort of the experience. I strongly suggest that those who are being illegal have to pay a price as well.
Just listening to Jan Mickelson on WHO radio. His commentary on Postville is so swift that I can hardly take notes fast enough. He has access to the todays’ issue of the DM Register.
Jan wonders how long the “rat hole” will allowed to stay open. (Agriprocessors).
“Agriprocessors are in it for the short term profits/gains.” He calls the company a “scam” company who “laugh all the way to the bank.”
He also commented on the “rent a mob rally”! (I like this term!)
A caller just called in stating that he thought that slavery had be abolished a long time ago.
Jan has complimented the Des Moines Register for their coverage of the happenings in Postville. He says reporters are there doing their jobs so that we can know what is going on.
Jan wondering where the governor is in this situation.
We need to send a message that Iowa will do our job to get rid of “scumbags” and “low-lifes”. There needs to be investigations. This company can not continue to hide behind their fake religion.
“We are enabling what is going on in our own back yard.”
Sure hope other Iowans are tuning in to this discussion.
Sure hope our elected officials step up, take charge and do their jobs!!!!
Maybe if we didn’t abort 50 million of our babies we would have enough workers so illegals would have no where to go.