Hundreds arrested in Iowa immigration raid

**Terri** · #1 05-13-2008, 08:23 AM

By HENRY C. JACKSON
Associated Press
May 13, 2008

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) -- Federal immigration agents raided a northeastern Iowa meat processing plant Monday, arresting more than 300 people and housing many of them at a converted fairgrounds.

The raid of the Agriprocessors Inc. plant in Postville was the largest in state history and had been planned for months, said U.S. Attorney Matt M. Dummermuth.

The raid, one of several conducted at meat-processing plants around the country in recent years, was aimed at seeking evidence of identity theft, stolen Social Security numbers and people who are in the country illegally, ICE spokesman Tim Counts said.

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tgclark · #2 05-13-2008, 10:42 AM

Are we supposed to feel sorry for them? Not me, illegal is illegal and they have broken the law. Now they should go round up their families and deport them all.

righton · #3 05-13-2008, 10:44 AM

One down and I hate to think how many more are on the horizon. 'Bout time IMO.

Sister McCauley? If you're so concerned about the welfare of these lawbreaking illegals, I'd be happy to purchase an airline ticket (one way) for you to Mexico. Then you can put your energy and efforts into solving the ORIGINAL problem rather than dissing your country (I believe) for enforcing their laws. Wonder how long it will be before her church becomes a "sanctuary" for these lawbreakers?

L&L

RW · #4 05-13-2008, 12:00 PM

I'm Catholic. There is NO way I want my Church, or its "spokespeople" to become, or act as, political activists or to encourage or enable illegal activities in the name of my Church. That is NOT the role of any church...yours, mine or the people next door's church. Help the illegals deal with the inevitable trauma, yes, especially since most, if not all, these people paid huge sums of money to get to Iowa in the first place, and probably have no shelter when we deport them, to go to (yes, I know, lousy grammar).

But once a church becomes a tool to use against the government that protects it, time for the government to exercise its powers. And the church ain't gonna like it. I think an arrest or two might be in ordr for these people like Sister Mary. However, it would make a martyr of an attention seeking woman. We already have Cindy Sheehan, let's not make a habit of giving women like Cindy and Sister Mary national attention for breaking the law.

pattipace7 · #5 05-13-2008, 12:27 PM

Very good because it has become our Veterans or illegal aliens, and our government would have much more funding for Veterans, especially a GI bill to match that of WWII vets if they would get their priories straight:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/ope..._amnes ty.htm

cgretired · #6 05-13-2008, 12:41 PM

1000 more raids like this and we may make a dent in the problem.

AND

Quote:

"Sister Mary McCauley, a Roman Catholic nun at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Postville, said family members of plant workers came to the nearby church in tears after immigration agents arrived in buses, vans and two helicopters.

''The people right now are hearing and seeing the helicopters,'' McCauley said Monday morning. ''They are just panic-stricken and very frightened and some of them are coming to the church as a safe haven.''

McCauley said she went to the plant to help provide information and assist workers but was not allowed to get close.

''Some of the people that are going to be detained are up against a fence and now they're tying their hands,'' she said.

I would be willing to bet that they would not hear the sound of helicopters if they were back in Mexico or wherever they came from.. no more noise, no mor trauma. Easy. Simple Solution. Problem solved, right, Sister? Next problem!!

STEELMAN · #7 05-13-2008, 01:04 PM

Quote:

The governor said he'd been told last week there would be some kind of federal action.

Oh boy that's really exciting? "Some kind of federal action?"

Wonder what that would be.?

Nicholas · #8 05-13-2008, 02:19 PM

So, we've arrested 300 people, most if not all of whom are likely to be illegal aliens.

It's about TIME!!!!!

300 down and 11,999,700 to go.....

(I'm assuming that 99% or more of these will be deported, immediately if not sooner.)

azwhitewolf · #9 05-13-2008, 02:43 PM

Quote:

(I'm assuming that 99% or more of these will be deported, immediately if not sooner.)

Not so fast. Mexico has taught them what to say in case of arrest to prolong the process, waste time and resources until it can be proven that they aren't actual citizens.

And they exhaust every avenue, because the stalling keeps someone else from getting busted.

Call it a "criminal courtesy", if you will.

Quote:

''Some of the people that are going to be detained are up against a fence and now they're tying their hands,'' she said.

Yeah, and in China, Christians are getting arrested and disappear for talking about Jesus. Where's Sister Mary on that action?

Oh noes. They're tying their hands!!

Quote:

I think an arrest or two might be in ordr for these people like Sister Mary. However, it would make a martyr of an attention seeking woman.

I say bring it to light. The Catholic Church has a history (no offense, RadioWoman) of political activism "in the name of God" that isn't necessarily supported by any specific doctrine that I've ever read.

If this woman becomes a martyr, or a big deal, or cries about injustice, then that's on her and the church needs to make a decision. The Catholic Church sometimes has to be brought forward kicking and screaming, and this seems to be one of those issues.

The LAST thing I want to see is the Feds having a reason to target churches of any kind. That erodes freedom. But when breaking the law is an accepted policy, there's not a whole lot of options to stop it. I'd make exceptions for Muslims who fund terrorism, and FLDS who marry 14 year olds to 40 year olds, and Catholics who harbor criminals. It's not even a grey area. This is clearly black and white.

"Render Unto Caesar" applies here, and that includes the law (biblically, even law that is put in place by an evil ruler!). Unless the Catholic Church has some long standing doctrine that I'm unaware of that could possibly supersede this, and I would love to read that, they are setting a bad example and a horrible precedent.

jack virtus · #10 05-13-2008, 02:50 PM

We should be reading or hearing about hundreds of raids like this being carried out every day not 2 or 3 a year. I too am Catholic, i believe they should be saving souls not helping illegals. I don't know why some in the Catholic Church want to treat illegals as Political prisoners instead of the criminals they are. Good job Immigration dept. FOR A CHANGE!