Remember Postville, Iowa? Action Alert

(5:30PM EST – promoted by Nightprowlkitty)

On May 12th ICE agents raided the Agriprocessor plant in Postville, Iowa and detained nearly 400 men, women and children. Here’s a video of Sister Mary McCauley of St. Bridget’s Catholic Church talking about the impact of this raid on their small community and the efforts of the church to provide assistance.

I have a friend who is the director of an organization here in the Twin Cities, Centro Legal, that provides legal assistance for the immigrant communities in the area. Today I got an email pointing me to the following letter asking for assistance for this small town that has been devastated.

A Letter of Appeal for Postville

July 3, 2008

Dear Friends,

Last week I received a phone call from David Vasquez, a campus pastor at Luther College, one of the leading and well-known denominational colleges in the Midwest, near Postville, Iowa. Pastor Vasquez’ tone was heavy and it was clear he needed encouragement.

Pastor Vasquez is one of the many good Samaritans helping to restore the broken pieces that were left by Federal ICE agent s on May 12, 2008 when they raided the Agriprocessor plant in Postville and detained nearly 400 men, women and children.

The raid, he said, devastated the town. Postville welcomed immigrants over many years as city officials were eager to reverse a declining population and revitalize its economic development. Now it is left as it was 20 years ago, as in a town of 2,300, 400 of its citizens, more than 1 in 6, was arrested.   The streets are quiet, the business’ desperate and nearly everyone, immigrant and non-immigrant alike, affected.

Pastor Vasquez’ tone was urgent. He said, “Is there money available for the women, and children who are on monitoring devices and waiting for their criminal and immigration hearings?”  “They don’t have anything and they are in need of basic goods like food, housing and baby formula.”  

He also said that since the raid, there have been many rumors that ICE will return – “people are constantly asking us, ‘do you know whether or not they will return’?”  Pastor Vasquez shared worriedly.  He asked for legal advice and assistance for the other immigrants in the community and who were not detained.  He said some of them have legal remedies, but legal support is insufficient to address the overwhelming need.   Volunteer attorneys like Sonia Parras, have been working around the clock, but still are unable to meet the legal needs of all of the people and the community.  

Pastor Vasquez said that many gifts and donations had been delivered to St. Bridget’s Catholic Church where the parish staff, Parish Administrator Sister Mary McCauley and Director for Hispanic Ministries Pablo Rael, were doing an excellent job of distributing the resources.  However, the resources are nearly gone because the town is so small and such a large proportion of it has been impacted.  

My heart was heavy as I heard his weary voice pleading for help.  It took me back to the aftermath of Worthington and Willmar and reminded me of the heartbroken faces and the screaming children held by their fathers because their mothers were imprisoned and could not nurse them.   I was also taken back to the shared responsibility and support that advocates, lawyers and community organizers from across the county gave to our agency, Centro Legal, in our effort to do our part.  We were successful mostly because of the support of others – many of whom are reading this letter today.  

Pastor Vasquez and many other volunteers have worked tirelessly, spending long hours a week, since May 12, in their role as counselors, advisors, resource/information specialist, mentors and friends.   Pastor Vasquez has sought the support of the Hispanic Caucus and Rep. Luis Gutierrez – Illinois and other not for profit agencies from across the country.  He expressed his gratitude for the many gifts and donations that have already been sent by people in Minnesota.  

I asked Pastor Vasquez to compose a wish list for the people of Postville, Iowa and told him that I would send an electronic appeal to our constituents, donors and friends.  

The following is a list that he has asked me to distribute:

   * We are in desperate need of funds to cover the basic legal representation of those affected. These folks are hard working people, many of whom have been victims of a variety of labor and other crimes, and need support in advocating for their basic rights

   * Support the local grass-roots response that is supporting nearly 60 families who are required, by the conditions of their humanitarian release, to remain in the community until their legal and immigration cases run their course.  

   * Additionally, we are trying to support the families of 270 people who have been given a 5 month sentence-their needs are both financial and emotional.

   * The emotional impact of this raid-both by its size and the very limited resources in such a small community-has been huge. We need support in responding to the emotional needs of children whose parents have suddenly disappeared, women whose inability to find their husbands, brother or other relatives (as it has been very difficult to track the location of people in the jail system) echoes their own difficult experience in their country of origin

   * Postville Relief Effort: Priority List & Cost Estimate      

Friends, no matter what your opinion on immigration policy, enforcement, immigrants, right or wrong, good or bad, there are people who are in need in Postville, Iowa.  There are women and children who are tired and hungry and in need of compassion and care.  There are also advocates, clergy, community organizers, and lawyers who are in need of an encouraging note or call.

Donations can be sent via:

         St. Bridget’s Hispanic Ministry Fund

         c/o Sister Mary McCauley

         P.O. Box 369

         Postville, Iowa 52162

Or online via Lutheran Disaster Assistance at Lutheran Disaster Response.  Click on “Donate” and choose Postville from the drop down menu.  100% of donations are directed to the local effort at St. Bridget’s.

Thank you for your consideration and support.

Gloria Contreras Edin, Esq.

Executive Director, Centro Legal, Inc.