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May 12, 2009

Anniversary of Immigration Raid Marked in Postville, Iowa
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And one year ago today, federal immigration agents raided a kosher
slaughterhouse in Postville, Iowa, arresting nearly 400 immigrant
workers in what at the time was the largest immigration raid in US
history. The raid devastated the town of Postville. The slaughterhouse
owned by Agriprocessors has since closed down, taking with it hundreds
of jobs. The number of vacant rental homes in Postville has soared. Half
of the town’s population has left. The town’s mayor resigned earlier
this year. Nearly all of the male workers arrested last year were
deported. Many of the female workers have been allowed to stay to care
for their children but are unable legally to work.



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