This is horrible. We just got news that there was an immigration raid at Agriprocessors, Inc. in Postville, IA today. This same plant just was raided back in May. Voters and GOTV volunteers, don't be intimidated!
Federal agents returned to Agriprocessors Inc. in Postville on Tuesday in an apparent follow-up to a May immigration raid and have arrested at least one Hispanic employee, local religious leaders said.
Agents descended on the kosher meat plant this afternoon, said two church pastors who have helped the plant’s workers in recent months. Workers began arriving at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church seeking help, they said.
“Our office is in a state of chaos,” said the Rev. Paul Ouderkirk, pastor at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church. “We have people coming off the streets right now in fear.”
Agriprocessors was the site of one of the largest single-site immigration raids in May. Federal agents detained 389 illegal immigrant workers in an investigation that spurred the national debate over immigration and led to criminal charges against a top executive.
One woman who arrived at the church said agents arrested her husband at the plant, said the Rev. Steve Brackett. Brackett said Postville’s streets emptied quickly as word spread that federal agents had arrived.
“We only have one confirmed report of an arrest right now,” Brackett said. “The assumption is, they’re here for additional people.”
Tim Counts, a spokesman for the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement, referred all questions to the U.S. Attorney’s office. Bob Teig, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney, did not return two phone messages.
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