According to the company, they're recruited by an Amarillo firm and sent to Postville. They're then processed by Jacobson Staffing, a Des Moines company that screens them to assure they're legally allowed in the country to work.
But a local radio station, KPVL, has a different take. Several Postville officials say new arrivals are causing problems for the town. Amarillo's homeless problem is now Postville's. Four disorderly conduct arrests were made straightaway, and a woman bussed in said she was expected to live with 10 men in a four-bedroom house with no electricity or hot water.
On July 27, AP reported that "About a thousand protesters descended on (Postville today), decrying (the May 12 raid) and calling for a change in federal immigration policies." They arrived by bus from Minneapolis, Chicago, Wisconsin, New York and New Jersey - "circled the streets (and) clutched banners and signs" like "United for immigrant and worker rights." Speakers denounced "the criminalization of people who come to the US simply to make a living."
Agriprocessors is the nation's largest kosher meat processor, owned and run by the Rubashkin family. They deny any responsibility for what happened, the legitimacy of worker complaints, and the plant's notoriously unsafe conditions. So far, no family members have been criminally charged. All remain free even after the latest New York Times August 5 report headlined "Inquiry Finds Under-Age Workers at Meat Plant."
It said: "State labor investigators have identified 57 under-age workers" at Agriprocessors, "and have asked the attorney general to bring criminal charges against the company for child labor violations....(for) egregious violations of virtually every aspect of Iowa's child labor laws." Findings show minors worked in "prohibited occupations, exposing them to hazardous chemicals, making them work with prohibited tools like knives and saws," and forcing them to work night shifts and as long as 17 hour days with no overtime pay or not all of it.
"A federal investigation is (now) under way." However, no action so far has been taken, and based on the industry's history of abusive practices and how Washington responds, any punishment levied is likely to be minor at best.
Postville, Iowa mid-summer 2008. It's now a poster child for ICE victimization - ravaged by its terror heading throughout the country unless stopped - against defenseless Latino workers. Many undocumented, others US citizens. And don't forget how innocent Muslims and others are targeted, persecuted, unjustly charged and imprisoned at a time when we're all potential victims of police state terror.
Still, NAM reports a hopeful sign in its July 22 article headlined: "Opposition builds to immigration raids." Across the country, "immigrants and activists are beginning to organize protests and high-visibility responses." Immigration activists plan to protest at the Denver August National Democratic Convention, and four members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus plan visits with Postville-impacted families and will report back to Congress and the press.
Now if others in Congress would address Muslim issues, act to free those unjustly imprisoned, and coalesce to end harsh police state terror against victims of religious and ethnic persecution. Not so far as no profiles in courage have stepped forward nor do many stand up for Latinos and other targets of choice.
Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the Center for Research on Globalization. He lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to The Global Research News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Mondays from 11AM - 1PM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests. All programs are archived for easy listening.
I am a 72 year old, retired, progressive small businessman concerned about all the major national and world issues, committed to speak out and write about them.
Well written, Stephen but you missed a few. Colorado, the State Patrol stopped a van in southern Colorado with 26 illegal aliens stuffed in a seven passenger van and many other such incidents. It is not uncommon for illegals to move into abandoned, or otherwise unocupied, ranch houses out on the eastern and southern plains until they can find jobs in a nearby community.
This is a big problem and if ICE can't do it, let citizens make arrests.
by
John Shriver (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 60 comments)
on Monday, August 11, 2008 at 8:12:57 AM
A federal agency actually doing it's job, unbelieveable. The vast majority of Americans have a problem with illegal immigration (immigration that is undertaken illegally and yes being 'undocumented' is illegal). I live in California and am tired of this invasion. I have hispanic friends who lament the political condition in Mexico yet still believe in some sort of nonsensical Aztlan here. This is the U.S.A. and like any other country we have an absolute right to police our borders and set immigration policy irregardless of what happend in the past and led up to the current situation. Without laws there is anarchy. Unfortunately, our government has sold the will of it's people up the river. I'm sick and tired of working my butt off to support the education, medical care, welfare, etc. of illegal immigrant families who still subscribe to the catholic view of no birth control. It's not right that I'm a responsible, productive member of society basically forced into slavery to support these people. I have no problem with immigrants coming here to better their lives but stay off the government tit. Forcing me to give the fruits of my labor to others is slavery whether or not it has the 'legal' cover term of taxes.
by
Ro Bo (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 12 comments)
on Monday, August 11, 2008 at 1:25:48 PM
Screw the assumption, workers of the world unite! A planet with open borders will be one controlled by the multi-national corporations. It's time for American progressives to return to defending the American working class. Shame that we left our most vulnerable workers, those with the least education and with the least resources, and often still having to battle racism, open to an invasion of cheap, illegal labor.
by
Stewart Nusbaumer (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 19 comments)
on Monday, August 11, 2008 at 3:01:21 PM
Finally, a part of the federal government actually DOING something. The employers should be punished more for their illegal hiring policy's. Send a couple dozen company presidents to jail for 6 months, that will go alooong way towards fixing the problem.
by
sbaker (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 145 comments)
on Monday, August 11, 2008 at 4:05:27 PM
The vast majority of Americans want the rule of law enforced. people should not be allowed to illegally enter our country and use our social security numbers to under bid American citizens for a job. Illegal immigration is cheap labor perfect for exploitation by greedy corporations. Liberals and progressives need to think of the lower middle class working people of this country instead of the rights of illegal immigrants, many of whom are drug dealers, gang members and criminals. A country that cherry picks which laws it enforces has no system of justice.
by
Gary Denson (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 283 comments)
on Monday, August 11, 2008 at 5:49:08 PM
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