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The detainees were brought to National Cattle Congress on these Homeland Security buses.
RICK CHASE / Courier Staff Photographer
RICK CHASE / Courier Staff Photographer
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Detainees heading to court this afternoon
By JOSH NELSON, Courier Staff Writer
WATERLOO — Court proceedings against approximately 390 people detained in the largest immigration raid of its type are scheduled to begin this afternoon.
Agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement descended on the Agriprocessors plant in Postville Monday morning.
The 390 people arrested, most of whom were Guatemalan immigrants, were transported to a processing area at the National Cattle Congress fairgrounds in Waterloo.
Fifty-six people were released on humanitarian grounds, either from health conditions or because children would be left without parents. Most of those were women.
“Very few women remain in custody,” said Claude Arnold, a special agent in charge of the ICE office of investigations in Bloomington, Minn.
Seventy-six women were arrested in all.
Three hundred and fourteen men are being held at Estel Hall on the fairgrounds.
Three temporary court rooms were set up at the fair by the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Iowa, where the defendants who face criminal charges will make their intial appearance, said U.S. Attorney Matt M. Dummermuth.
The hearings are expected to begin at 4 p.m., according to court documents. Attorney Steve Swift has been appointed to represent the first 10 defendants.
After that appearnce, the defendants will be remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals.
Those not criminally charged will stay in the custody of ICE while they undergo deportation proceedings, officials said.
The defendants may face a range of charges, including aggrivated identity theft and fraudulent use of a social security number.
Officials said the raid was the largest single-site raid in the nation, and the largest in Iowa’s history.
At a press conference earlier in the day, ICE officials showed a video of the processing area, which included enough space for nearly 700 people. The area included showers, sleeping arrangements and entertainment.
“You can see this was not just a small operation,” said Bob Teig, an assistant U.S. attorney.
An intake processing area was was set up in McElroy Audiorium.
Most of the administrative arrests in the immigration raid at Agri-Processors in Postville were Guatemalans but included four different nationalities, officials with the U.S. Attorney’s office in Cedar Rapids said this morning.
Of the 390 detainess, 290 were Guatemalans and 93 were Mexicans, as well as a handful of Israelis and Ukrainians, officials said.
Twelve juveniles who were found working at the plant were also arrested, Arnold said. Six of those juveniles were released to family members or other responsible adults.
An immigration attorney gained was allowed access to the National Cattle Congress grounds late this morning.
Meanwhile Efforts to bring families currently staying in a Catholic church in Postville closer to detained family members and legal aid was underway this morning at El Centro Latinoamericano.
The Guatemalan consulate in Chicago said this morning it is sending two representatives to the center this evening. The Latino resource center is coordinating with area churches and St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in Postville to transport people down to shelters in Waterloo.
Also a prayer vigil has been scheduled 6:30 p.m. tonight at Queen of Peace Catholic Church , 320 Mulberry St.
A bank account, called Postville Support Fund, has been set up at Veridian Credit Union benefit detainees and their familieis.
Read Wednesday’s Courier and online updates for more details.
Agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement descended on the Agriprocessors plant in Postville Monday morning.
The 390 people arrested, most of whom were Guatemalan immigrants, were transported to a processing area at the National Cattle Congress fairgrounds in Waterloo.
Fifty-six people were released on humanitarian grounds, either from health conditions or because children would be left without parents. Most of those were women.
“Very few women remain in custody,” said Claude Arnold, a special agent in charge of the ICE office of investigations in Bloomington, Minn.
Seventy-six women were arrested in all.
Three hundred and fourteen men are being held at Estel Hall on the fairgrounds.
Three temporary court rooms were set up at the fair by the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Iowa, where the defendants who face criminal charges will make their intial appearance, said U.S. Attorney Matt M. Dummermuth.
The hearings are expected to begin at 4 p.m., according to court documents. Attorney Steve Swift has been appointed to represent the first 10 defendants.
After that appearnce, the defendants will be remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals.
Those not criminally charged will stay in the custody of ICE while they undergo deportation proceedings, officials said.
The defendants may face a range of charges, including aggrivated identity theft and fraudulent use of a social security number.
Officials said the raid was the largest single-site raid in the nation, and the largest in Iowa’s history.
At a press conference earlier in the day, ICE officials showed a video of the processing area, which included enough space for nearly 700 people. The area included showers, sleeping arrangements and entertainment.
“You can see this was not just a small operation,” said Bob Teig, an assistant U.S. attorney.
An intake processing area was was set up in McElroy Audiorium.
Most of the administrative arrests in the immigration raid at Agri-Processors in Postville were Guatemalans but included four different nationalities, officials with the U.S. Attorney’s office in Cedar Rapids said this morning.
Of the 390 detainess, 290 were Guatemalans and 93 were Mexicans, as well as a handful of Israelis and Ukrainians, officials said.
Twelve juveniles who were found working at the plant were also arrested, Arnold said. Six of those juveniles were released to family members or other responsible adults.
An immigration attorney gained was allowed access to the National Cattle Congress grounds late this morning.
Meanwhile Efforts to bring families currently staying in a Catholic church in Postville closer to detained family members and legal aid was underway this morning at El Centro Latinoamericano.
The Guatemalan consulate in Chicago said this morning it is sending two representatives to the center this evening. The Latino resource center is coordinating with area churches and St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in Postville to transport people down to shelters in Waterloo.
Also a prayer vigil has been scheduled 6:30 p.m. tonight at Queen of Peace Catholic Church , 320 Mulberry St.
A bank account, called Postville Support Fund, has been set up at Veridian Credit Union benefit detainees and their familieis.
Read Wednesday’s Courier and online updates for more details.
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mieshababe wrote on May 13, 2008 4:24 PM:
" It's about time the Feds did something to enforce our laws.....now keep it up, don't just put on a little show and let it go. Illegal aliens and the companies that hire them are slowly but surely ruining this country. "
TJS-24 wrote on May 13, 2008 4:24 PM:
" Companies who hire illegal workers should loose their bussiness and then people would think twice about hiring illegals.YOU GOT WHAT WAS COMING TO YOU "
mjgusa wrote on May 13, 2008 6:50 PM:
" "Hats off" to the federal officers, and ICE, who are finally enforcing the law. And "MrsHags" concern for the children is fine but, if you go out and break the law and bring your family along, what do you expect? I think the business should be prosecuted as well! It's unfortunate but get in line like my grandparents did and enter the US legally. "
fosen0 wrote on May 13, 2008 8:45 PM:
" The law is the law and maybe needs to change a bit so we got a new fence down Mexico way and only the best of the best can scale it no different then the Berlin wall in my mind.
It is loss to the US to ship them back after they have already proved their work ethic and survival skills(which are not on a citizenship application that I know of).
I don't know what the solution should be
but this ain't it "
It is loss to the US to ship them back after they have already proved their work ethic and survival skills(which are not on a citizenship application that I know of).
I don't know what the solution should be
but this ain't it "
taxpayer wrote on May 13, 2008 8:48 PM:
" I feel fo rthe kids to but there are children who have parents here in prison who are just fine. These illegals aren't going to prison they are just being deported. Come back legally and not worry "
reillyspage wrote on May 13, 2008 9:32 PM:
" What do these politians think they are... Didn't there ancestors take this country by force from the INDIANS to practice freedom of RELIGION! We are all Immigrants. KICK US ALL OUT AND GIVE MY PEOPLE BACK THERE LAND! "
FAQ wrote on May 13, 2008 10:34 PM:
" Absolutely, go after the company owners, CEO, Board of Directors and and Human Resources personnel. They deserve a long stretch in prison and substantial fines. ICE, please stay and continue to arrest and deport all illegal aliens. "
Think wrote on May 14, 2008 9:52 AM:
" We've seen it too many times. Be it MS 13 or the 18th street gang. You going to tell me these drug dealing illegals are doing us anything of value by being here? Most of these "kids" come from the families of meat packers and maids who found drugs easy money. Bad apples wreck a tree. "
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MrsHags wrote on May 13, 2008 4:03 PM: