The ICE raid on the Agriprocessors, Inc., meatpacking plant in May 2008 set into motion a series of events that first brought migrants from hundreds and even thousands of miles away to fill jobs left vacant by the raid, and then left those workers homeless when the company declared bankruptcy and could not make payroll.
Now, the church that first helped (and continues to help) the Guatemalan families who lost their fathers and primary sources of income as a result of the raid, now also is providing shelter and food for dozens of Somali refugees and migrants from Palau who the company recruited to work at the plant this summer. Migra Matters posted about the humanitarian crisis in Postville this week:
To make up for their work force being gutted by the ICE raid, and assuming they would soon be back on their feet, Agriprocessors flew in workers from the island nation of Palau. Each Palauan worker was given a round trip ticket and promised $9/hr (compared to the $2/hr they were making in Palau).
Unfortunately, Agriprocessors couldn't make good on even $9/hr. The company didn't make payroll last Friday, leaving all their workers (but the Palauans in particular) in dire straits. On Friday night, the landlord of a local rental property, who presumably knew that workers had not been paid, asked Alliant Energy to cut power to workers' rental units. (The State of Iowa intervened, and power was restored later in the weekend).
In the wake of this turn of events, many workers were suddenly homeless this weekend. Seventeen Paluans were shuttled to nearby Decorah, IA, where they were housed in a skating rink. A bitter reversal in what they thought would be their first glimpse of the American dream.
The Jewish Council on Urban Affairs sent out an alert on Monday that the food pantry at St. Bridget's Catholic Church has run out of food. JCUA delivered donations from Chicago to the church this afternoon, but is still accepting monetary donations for the church on its website.
Info from JCUA e-mail dated November 21, 2008:
Postville has run out of food!
Your help is needed NOW ...
Since the federal immigration raid May 12, hundreds of families have lined up each Wednesday in front of the food pantry at St. Bridget's Catholic Church, grateful for supplies to get them through the week.But the pantry has run out of food.
The situation is dire. Agriprocessors has ceased operation. Workers who haven't been paid for weeks now have no hope of receiving paychecks. Landlords continue to evict tenants unable to afford their rent. And people trying to leave Postville can't even afford to do so.
This coming Wednesday, Thanksgiving eve, hundreds of families will be waiting in line at the food pantry. We must make sure the pantry is stocked by the time they show up.
Help us fill the pantry ...
We will drive your non-perishable food items to Postville Tuesday afternoon. Please bring food items to the JCUA offices, 610 S. Michigan Ave., 5th floor, on Friday, Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Monday, Nov. 24, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Tuesday, Nov. 25, from 8 to 10 a.m.Your financial contributions also will be welcome at those times -- or donate online.
An increasing number of Postville's Jewish families also need support. Please help them by bringing kosher products (OU, OK, cRc certification).The need is urgent. Please respond immediately.