Postville Project Documents | Postville Project | University of Northern Iowa

Skip to main content

Postville Project Documents

This is a collection of documents from the Postville Project collection.

The Postville Project is an initiative to preserve and exhibit the media and stories surrounding the 2008 immigration raid and the memories of the Postville, Iowa community before, during, and after that event. The collections in this project include news articles, photographs, personal papers, federal court documents, and much more. This is a collaborative effort between the University of Northern Iowa Rod Library and the Luther College Archives.

Printing is not supported at the primary Gallery Thumbnail page. Please first navigate to a specific Image before printing.

Switch View to Grid View Slideshow

abUSed - The Postville Raid [flyer]
abUSed: The Postville Raid [handout]
abUSed: The Postville Raid [pamphlet]
abUSed: The Postville Raid [postcard]
abUSed - The Postville Raid [website]
Fears and Facts about the Immigration Debate
Movie screening: abUSed: The Postville Raid
Postville today: An update
Questions and Answers about the Immigration Debate
The Immigration Debate: What the Bishops Say
The Immigration Debate: What You Can Do
Luis Argueta - Director/Producer

Luis Argueta
First Anniversary of the Postville Raid [flyer]
La Historia de Nuestras Vidas (The Story of Our Lives) [flyer]
La Historia de Nuestras Vidas (The Story of Our Lives) [news release]
La Historia de Nuestras Vidas (The Story of Our Lives) [program]
La Redada Migratoria de Postville 5 Años Después [poster]
Postville Immigration Raid 5 Years Later [poster - version 2]
400 march to NCC grounds
A Crime to Work: The Part of "Illegal" I Don't Understand
Activists worried about immigration raid in Waterloo
Ag files Child Labor Law violations
A gift from afar
Agreement reached in detainee lawsuit
Agricprocessors Inc. OSHA citations
Agriprocessors and named employees plead not guilty
Agriprocessors fighting to replace lost workers
Agriprocessors filed Chapter 11, Many employees leave Postville
Agriprocessors Inc. Chapter 11 bankruptcy 1-08-474772
Agriprocessors Inc. criminal complaint
Agriprocessors Inc. federal indictments
Agriprocessors Inc. motion suppress tridena
Agriprocessors Inc. OSHA logs 2007
Agriprocessors Inc. photos
Agriprocessors Inc. search warrant August 29, 2008
Agriprocessors Inc. warrant information
Agriprocessors is assessed fines totaling nearly ten million dollars
Agriprocessors keeps plant running; hiring replacements
Agriprocessors probe necessary
All saints service to be held at St. Paul Lutheran
American dream still shines for women detained in Postville raid
Anniversary invite
Anniversary invite Spanish
Archbishop attends Postville Mass
Archbishop Hanus to celebrate Mass in Postville Saturday
Archbishop to celebrate Mass at St. Bridget Saturday
Archdiocesan pastoral staff, Advent Day of Reflection, January 16, 2009
Area Hispanics scurry to get paperwork in line
Bail denied for Rubashkin for second time
Bankruptcy trustee is unable to answer displaced workers' questions
Bishops discuss joys, challenges of shepherding rural dioceses
Bishops seek end to immigration enforcement raids
Braley calls for Agriprocessors investigation; Staff tours NCC detention area
Braley inquires about labor investigation at Agriprocessors
Camayd-Freixas brief to Senate Judiciary Committee
Camayd-Freixas corrections to transcript
Cardinal, others discuss faith-based forces aligning on immigration
Car registrations; titles included in ICE investigation
Cattle Congress thought grounds would be used for Homeland Security training
Central College, Pella, Iowa, October 21, 2009
Checklist for anniversary event
CHIRLA press release
City Council declares disaster emergency in city of Postville
City Council meets to discuss impact of raid
Cityscape Magazine article
Clergy, religious offer perspectives on aftermath of Postville raid
Closing remarks, prayer and rally first anniversary of the raid, St. Bridget’s Church, Postville, Iowa, May 12, 2009
Column; Anti-immigration outside of most religious teaching
Community, Allamakee emergency management, religious leaders
Community foundation assists Postville families
Community media makes big difference in small town
Community Potluck and Town Hall Meeting flyer
Complaint letter to U.S. Attorney General
Concern raised over Israeli detained in raid
Conference examines Homeland Security's handling of immigration
Court kept busy by parade of detainees
Court rulings, new policies seen as important changes for immigrants
Culver expresses support for crackdown
Decorah area faith coalition prayer vigil poster
Des Moines Register, April 22, 2001
Detained Agriprocessors workers fight back in court
Detained Agriprocessors workers fight back with court filing
Detained workers location list
Detainee intends to leave U.S.
Detainees go to court in a ballroom
Detainees have all left NCC grounds
Detainees heading to court this afternoon
Detainees moved from NCC grounds
Detainees seek injunction to keep them in Iowa
Detention Deficit Disorder
Discussion held on new hires at Agriprocessors
Diversity Council releases statement
Diversity Council update on aftermath of raid
Diversity The Gift of Difference Workshop brochure
Donations welcome for those affected by the closing of Agriprocessors, Inc.
Dozens protest immigration raid
Ecumenical Advocacy Days 2010, Washington, DC, March 19-22, 2010
Editorial; Deere just keeps running strong
Editorial; ICE learned from past human rights miscues
Editorial; Raid shows need for immigration reform
ELCA makes donation following ICE raid
El Centro asks for financial help
El Centro seeks donations to help detainees
ESL recognition ceremony program
Ethnic food booth advertisement, August 27, 2000
Event flyers
Events protesting Agriprocessors raid planned Sunday in Waterloo
Excerpt testimony of Sholom Rubashkin
Faith leaders speak out on poor treatment of workers
Federal class-action lawsuit filed in immigration raid
Feds to start pulling out of Cattle Congress before next weekend
Feds will begin pulling out of NCC grounds before next weekend 1
Feds will begin pulling out of NCC groups before next weekend 2
Fifth anniversary interfaith prayer program
File inspectors tour Cattle Congress grounds
Flier banner
flier image; Rosa Zamora and daughters
Flores-Figueroa v. United States
Flores-Figueroa v. United States petition
Flores-Figueroa v. United States response to petition
Gabriela's Gift
Gazette, January 29, 1999
Guatemalan consulate 'satisfied' by conditions inside NCC
Guatemalan consulate "satisfied" with treatment of detainees
Guatemalan workers in Iowa reunite with family members they left behind
Guest editorial; Postville's real victims not invited to this party
Guest editorial; Railroading immigrants
Guest editorial; What you sow, Is what you reap
Help given to immigrants affected by Iowa raid called faith in action
Hispanics learning their rights
HR employees enter not guilty pleas
Hundreds of residents enjoy soup supper; Toy give-away during hometown of hope event
ICE application for search warrant
ICE head touts common ground with church, avoids talk of differences
ICE raid is largest ever in Iowa
ICE search warrant and affidavit for raid
Illegal immigrants freed after testifying against plant manager; Pair remain under house arrest
Images of downtown Postville storefronts created by Diversity Council, 2000-2002
Immigrants meet with U.S. Congressmen Saturday
Immigration raid termed largest in Iowa history
Immigration reform next up on bishops' wish list for Congress
In Postville; Shock but no surprise
Interfaith immigration reform prayer walk and vigil
Interfaith Immigration Reform Prayer Walk list of chants
Interfaith Immigration Vigil program
Interfaith Prayer Service program
Interfaith Service and March poster
Interfaith Service and Walk schedule of events
In the immigration spotlight: Detention, immigrants' citizen children
Investment banker's little bond fund goes nationwide for immigrants
Iowa community rallies to help families after raids
Iowa Division of Labor proposes citations and penalties against Agriprocessors, Inc.
Iowa, other raids rallying points in push for immigration changes
Iowa town stretching resources to help families hurt by ICE raid
Islam seminar flyer
Itinerary for anniversary event
Jacobson staffing helping Agriprocessors replace workers taken in may ICE raid
La Historia de Nuestras Vidas theatre program
Latham and staff meet with govt. officials, others
Launa Rambler - Pastor Christopher Staley
Lawmakers call for Agriprocessors probe
Lessons learned from Agriprocessors raid shared; Immigration reform needed
Letters to the Editor [Carole S. Gauger)]
Letters to the Editor [Dorothy Paulsen]
Letter to Dept. of Justice and Dept. of Homeland Security
Letter to Editor; Crack down on employers
Letter to Editor; Land of xenophobia
Letter to the Editor [Amy Tamar Dickel]
Letter to the Editor [Becky Monroe]
Letter to the Editor [Cami Hanson]
Letter to the Editor [Dale Siems]
Letter to the Editor [David Cavagnaro]
Letter to the Editor [Herman Lenz] 1
Letter to the Editor [Herman Lenz] 2
Letter to the Editor; Illegal immigration is illegal
Letter to the Editor; Immigration policy flawed
Letter to the Editor; Immigration reform needed
Letter to the Editor [Jayn Brotman]
Letter to the Editor [Jody Mitchell]
Letter to the Editor [Karen Heins]
Letter to the Editor [Ken Weston] 1
Letter to the Editor [Ken Weston] 2
Letter to the Editor [Ken Weston] 3
Letter to the Editor [K. Weston]
Letter to the Editor [K. Weston]
Letter to the Editor [Lewis Regenstein]
Letter to the Editor [Lori Egan]
Letter to the Editor [Rachel Vega and Zulema Medina]
Letter to the Editor; Raid was long overdue
Letter to the Editor [Rev. Michael S. Mulberry ]
List of media materials for anniversary
Managerial employees are arrested last week at Agriprocessors, Inc.
Many Doses of Kindness
Many doses of kindness; A northeast Iowa Christmas story
Marchers walk for immigration reform during Sunday's rally
Migration: Major social, economic force in Americas for years to come
More charges are filed against Agriprocessors
NCC officials thought grounds for Homeland Security training
Newspaper article recognizes ESL student ceremony
Nobel winner listens to testimony of workers rounded up in Iowa raid
Officials from Harkin's office visit with displaced workers
One year anniversary vigil flyer from St. Bridget's catholic church front
Oral argument in Flores-Figueroa v. United States
Oral statement of Camayd-Freixas
Palauans facing many challenges after 'American dream' becomes nightmare
Panelists discuss how news media look at poverty issues
Paycheck record for detained workers
Pedro's letter to Mrs. Obama
Pedro's letter to President Obama
People at interfaith prayer service, rally urge justice for migrants
Personal account from Sister Mary McCauley
PETA files complaint with U.S. Department of Agriculture
Poster for Camayd-Freixas presentation
Postville and Chinese Immigrants flyer
Postville begins the healing process following last week's immigration raid
Postville community response committee focuses on need for mental health services for immigrant families
Postville community support provides food for residence in their time of need
Postville detainees include Guatemalans, other nationalities, and some juveniles
Postville Diversity Film Series flyer
Postville food pantry needs volunteer help
Postville hearings justice; Lost in translation
Postville Herald Leader, August 21, 2002
Postville Herald Leader, August 24, 2005
Postville Herald Leader, September 13, 1998
Postville Herald Leader, September 16, 1998 1
Postville Herald Leader, September 16, 1998 2
Postville Herald Leader, September 2, 1998
Postville Herald Leader, September 5, 2001
Postville high school 2013 commencement program
Postville Immigration Raid 5 Years Later [poster - version 1]
Postville is the 'Hometown of Hope;' Official ribbon campaign launched
Postville plant has record of violations, reprimands
Postville raid information
Postville raid was largest at single site in history
Postville reeling after raid
Prayer service on the Anniversary of the Postville raid program
Presentation at the Reform Immigration for America Immigration Summit, Gallaudet University, Washington DC, June 4, 2009
Press release 1
Press release 1 Spanish
Press release 2
Press release 2 Spanish
Priest came out of retirement to help meatpacking plant workers
Radio board hears much praise for station manager
Raid now largest ever
Reflection from Pedro Arturo Lopez
Reflection given during prayer service on the occasion of the visit of Rigoberta Menchu to Postville, Iowa, November 8, 2008
Reflections form Rabbi Morris Allen
Reflections from Sister Mary McCauley, BVM, English-Spanish
Reflections from Sonia Parras, Attorney, Law Office of Sonia Parras
Regular meeting of the City Council of Postville, Iowa (July 14, 2008)
Relief fund set up for Postville
Remembering those who were taken
Repercussions of immigration raid felt far beyond Iowa
Report: Even before immigration reform, why not try these changes
Response letters to Camayd-Freixas article on Postville raid
Response to receiving Cristine Wilson Medal for Equality and Justice, from Iowa Commission on the Status of Women, August 29, 2009
Response to recognition at Chicago New Sanctuary Coalition, April 26, 2009
Rights workshop held amid immigration raid fears
Rotary Club of Lacrosse; Quillans donate to local food pantry
Rubashkin arrested again & held on allegations of federal bank fraud
Scared relatives huddling inside Postville church
Settlement reached in immigration lawsuit
Several hundred arrested in immigration raid here Monday
Sisters launch billboard campaign for immigration reform
Snow Shoveling
Some turn to their faith following raid
Special meeting of the City Council of Postville, Iowa (June 17, 2008)
Special meeting of the City Council of Postville, Iowa (May 21, 2008)
Standing room only
Statement from Congressman Bruce Braley
State steps in to help Postville residents
Story of Our Lives cover page
Story of Our Lives English script
Story of Our Lives English translation of commentary by Juventino Lopez Pichia
Story of Our Lives front cover
Story of Our Lives image 1
Story of Our Lives image 2
Story of Our Lives image 3
Story of Our Lives Kate Blair's directors notes
Story of Our Lives letter from Alex Skitolsky
Story of Our Lives performance schedule in Spanish and English
Story of Our Lives personal interviews
Story of Our Lives Spanish commentary by Juventino Lopez Pichia
Story of Our Lives Spanish program for Chicago performance
Story of Our Lives Spanish script
Story of Our Lives Spanish translation of written statement from co-director Alex Skitolsky
Story of Our Lives table of contents
Story of Our Lives transcribed Spanish commentary by Juventino Lopez Pichia
Story of Our Lives written Spanish personal account by Juventino Lopez Pichia
Story of our Lives written statement for Decorah performance
Story of Our Lives written statement from director Alex Skitolsky
Supervisor discussing zoning; Hear updates from auditor and emergency management
Supt. Strudthoff praises administration, faculty, staff & students for assistance during I. C. E. raid; Board to hire interim superintendent
Taste of Postville Newspaper, August 27, 2000
Taste of Postville Newspaper, August 29,1999
Taste of Postville Newspaper, September 13, 1998
Taste of Postville program, August 24, 2003
Taste of Postville program, August 26, 2001
Testimony from Dept. of Justice on ICE conduct during raid
Testimony from Director Forman on ICE conduct during raid
Testimony of Leah Rubashkin
The Day Democracy Died: The Postville Raid and the Criminalization of Migrants
The Postville story, Just Faith participants, Resurrection Parish, Dubuque, Iowa, February 20, 2010
The Postville Story, Sisters of St. Francis, Mt. St. Francis, Dubuque, Iowa, January 14, 2010
The Tapestry Magazine
Town's economy is hit hard after immigration raid
Transcript of hearing before the Judiciary Subcommittee
Undercover worker aided agents
Union: ICE raid interfered with ongoing investigation
Upcoming rally is calling for immigration reform, worker justice, family unity
Update; Court hearings held on the dance floor
U.S. Attorney's office files motion to keep former CEO in prison
U.S. citizenship on horizon for former meatpacking plant worker
Vigil at National Cattle Congress
Volunteers needed to help in office of Hispanic ministry
Welcoming new Iowans
What Happened This Summer poster
What's happening in and around Postville... (Peace rally and walk is Sunday)
What's happening in and around Postville... (Service at St. Bridget)
Why should we care and be involved? Interfaith Alliance, Des Moines, Iowa, November 9, 2008
Word for word Allamakee County pastor's ponderings Rev. Gary Catterson, Community Presbyterian Church
10th Anniversary Postville, Iowa Immigration Raid: The Summons, May 11, 2018
10th Anniversary Postville, Iowa Immigration Raid: The Summons, May 11, 2018: Interfaith Prayer Service
Summons Prayer
Documenting the Postville Story

Thomas L. Kessler
abUSed: The Postville Raid [postcard] (Iowa Public TV Premier)
Postville: 5 years later
Postville making progress 5 years after immigration raid
Postville raid recalled at immigration reform rally
UNI, Luther create Postville archive
Diversity still defines life, work in Postville

Karen Bushanam
Dramatic immigration raid left mark on town

Jim Offner
Making the bed: Manufacturer still thriving in Postville

Jim Offner
Postville didn't stop, look back

Jim Offner
Postville's kosher market reaches out to other customers

Jim Offner
An open secret: Hiring of undocumented workers at Agriprocessors was no surprise

Jeff Reinitz
Huge immigration raids a thing of the past

Jeff Reinitz
Iowa Film Premier
UPDATE: Judge in film criticizes sentences for Postville meat plan workers
Postville raid documentary to premiere in Iowa next week

Emily Christensen
Carne viva in Postville: Stories of Madres and Monarchs

Jennifer Cooley and Karen Mitchell

Carne viva are two words in Spanish that together can be translated various ways. Taken literally, they refer to live flesh, like an open wound. In this way they can allude to the slow process of recovery after a traumatic event. The words draw up images of enduring pain. In addition, they can be read to refer to fresh meat and in the context of human relations, to the image of a new conquest. They can also draw our thoughts to the context of a slaughterhouse, where working conditions involve constant contact with carcasses and blood, and the value of human life is not superior to the lives of the animals processed on the line; both cattle and humans are vehicles for profit. Finally, the words refer to human beings with vibrant lives whose stories will be told as this performance unfolds.

On May 12, 2008, approximately 900 police agents (federal, state and local authorities, helicopter pilots, and others) were on the ground in Postville, Iowa to stage what was at the time the largest workplace immigration raid in U.S. history. Given that the total population of Postville was just over 2,000, there was nearly one agent for every two Postville residents. By the end of the day, 389 workers had been detained at the Agriprocessors kosher meatpacking plant. Most detainees were herded into buses and transported to the National Cattle Congress in Waterloo, where they were caged in the very stalls that were typically reserved for cattle and hogs, and then “fast-tracked” in legal proceedings that, like the raid itself, were unique to U.S. history. Such legal proceedings have since been declared unconstitutional. Some of the detained workers, primarily women, were released by the evening of May 12. They were tagged with GPS tracking devices, given a 5-mile radius as a limit to their mobility, and told that they could not work and could not leave the delimited area, but were “free” to care for their children.

The events represented in Carne viva occur over the course of 5 months, from May 12, 2008 to Oct. 12, 2008. These months correspond to the sentences laid out for the majority of detained workers at Agriprocessors. These were traumatic days both in Postville and in Guatemala, in villages dotted across the Western Highlands that sent workers to the plant. The detained spouses and significant others of many Guatemalan women in Postville were the process of being deported, but the women often had no idea in what jail or even in what state prisoners were housed. During those five months family members in Guatemala would have no source of income from remittances and little or no word about the status of their loved ones and their possible return.
42 raids in past two years, 8 resulting in arrests of more than 100 workers . . . 15 resulting in arrests of 50 or more
A National Call for Solidarity
Content of Press Packet
First Anniversary of the Postville Raid
First Anniversary US Immigration and Customs (ICE) Raid at Agriprocessors in Postville, Iowa
"Hometown of Hope": Red Ribbon Campaign for Postville
Information about the May 12, 2008, Immigration Raid in Postville, Iowa
La Historia de Nuestras Vidas (The Story of Our Lives) [poster]
May 12, 2009, Postville, Iowa, Scheduled events
Places in Solidarity with Postville
Postville: Past, Present and Future Conference [flyer]
Postville: Past, Present and Future [poster]
Prayer Service and Vigil: Oraciòn y Vgilia
Prayer Service on the Anniversary of the Postville Raid
UNI to Host Postville Conference / Teach-In [news release]
Prayer Vigil

Mark A. Anderson
Braley Statement on One Year Anniversary of the Postville Raid

Bruce Braley
Charles E. Grassley letter

Charles E. Grassley
Statement by Senator Tom Harkin

Tom Harkin
A hard year, a cloudy future

Jens Manuel Krogstad
Congressman Tom Latham statement

Tom Latham
Postville Loteria

Lana Suomala
Statement of Most Rev. John C. Wester on the First Anniversary of the Postville Raids

John C. Wester
Events Analyze 2008 Raid in Postville [Northern Iowan article]

Rachel Zidon
400 march to NCC
Prayer Service and Vigil for a compassionate and comprehensive immigration policy
Affidavits of Two Guatemalan Prisoners from the Postville Raid of May 12, 2008

Erik Camayd-Freixas
Statement by Archbishop Jerome Hanus OSB

Jerome Hanus
Employers face immigration crackdown, too

Jens Manuel Krogstad