Another ICE Raid in Iowa

ICE is conducting a raid in Postville, Iowa, today. Last year, the ICE raids on Swift Meatpacking included one plant in Iowa as well. According to the Associated Press:

Immigration officials raided the Agriprocessors Inc. plant in Postville on Monday as part of an investigation into identity theft.

Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement entered the plant at about 10 a.m. looking for evidence of identity theft, stolen Social Security numbers and for people who are in the country illegally, said Tim Counts, an ICE spokesman.

Counts said all those arrested would be interviewed by ICE agents to determine if they should be detained. If someone raises questions based on humanitarian grounds, they could be released pending a detention hearing.

"Usually, it's medical or if someone is a primary care giver to a child," Counts said.

He also said a toll-free telephone number had been set up to assist family members of those arrested who have questions about their detention status and the removal process.

A news conference was scheduled for 2 p.m. at the U.S. attorney's office in Cedar Rapids.

Sister Mary McCauley, a Roman Catholic nun at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Postville, told The Associated Press that family members of plant workers were coming to the nearby church in tears.

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

The church is about five blocks from the plant, she said.

She said rumors began swirling around the community on Friday about an upcoming raid, leaving many people worried.

She said Immigration officials arrived with buses, vans and two helicopters.  Click here for the full story.

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