On Saturday, CBS’s Anthony Mason blamed tough economic times in a small Iowa town on immigration enforcement: "...the small town of Postville, Iowa, is still struggling to recover from an immigration raid last year that left its economy in tatters."
Reporting for Saturday’s Evening News, correspondent Seth Doane followed Mason’s introduction by similarly arguing: "...last May when Agriprocessors, a kosher meat processing plant, and the town's largest employer, was raided by Homeland Security. Hundreds were arrested, accused of illegally working in the U.S...After the raid, the plant declared bankruptcy. At one point, leaving hundreds of legal workers without jobs." Doane described the town’s commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the raid: "A few weeks ago at the one-year anniversary of the raid, church bells tolled 389 times, one for each person arrested. It served as a reminder, as if anyone here needed one."
In November, Doane issued an almost identical report on the impact of the raid on the Early Show: "With empty streets and shuttered shops, this small town is facing economic calamity. Mayor Bob Penrod is taking steps this weekend to declare a state of emergency here. But it's not a natural disaster. Rather, one that's manmade...It all started May 12th, when hundreds of federal immigration authorities raided Agriprocessors and arrested 389 workers."
What Doane failed to report in both stories was the numerous labor law violations that Agriprocessors has been accused of by many of the illegal immigrants who once worked at the Postville plant. A July 27, 2008 article in the New York Times detailed those allegations:
...in the aftermath of the arrests, labor investigators have reaped a bounty of new evidence from the testimony of illegal immigrants, teenagers and adults, who were caught in the raid. In formal declarations, immigrants have described pervasive labor violations at the plant, testimony that could result in criminal charges for Agriprocessors executives, labor law experts said...many of the immigrants say they now have nothing to lose in speaking up about the conditions in the plant. They have told investigators that they were routinely put to work without safety training and were forced to work long shifts without overtime or rest time. Under-age workers said their bosses knew how young they were.
On Saturday, Doane made only a brief reference to the criminal case against Agriprocessors, citing one illegal immigrant caught in the raid: "Last fall, when we met Irma Rucal one of the undocumented plant workers, she wore a tracking anklet and awaited deportation. Just weeks ago, the device was removed. ‘I started crying for joy,’ she tells me. Irma and her children can now legally stay in the U.S. because she and at least 20 others have agreed to testify in the government's case against the plant."
Here is the full transcript of the Saturday Evening News story:
6:46PM TEASE:
ANTHONY MASON: And just ahead on tonight's CBS Evening News, an Iowa town struggles to recover one year after a devastating raid.
6:49PM SEGMENT:
ANTHONY MASON: Across the country this weekend, a number of states are holding debates on immigration reform while the small town of Postville, Iowa, is still struggling to recover from an immigration raid last year that left its economy in tatters. Tonight, Seth Doane revisits a town on the front line of the immigration debate.
SETH DOANE: On front lawns across Postville, Iowa, there are the signs of spring. Then there are signs that it's this spring. Once home to 3,000 people, Postville's population has dwindled in a matter of months to just 1,800.
KIM DEERING [OWNER, WISHING WELL]: People are trying to be positive in the community, but – but it's wearing on them.
DOANE: Is it wearing on you?
DEERING: Oh, yeah.
DOANE: At the Wishing Well, business is off 30%. But at least Kim Deering is still in business. Many of her neighbors cannot say the same. For the past year, CBS News has followed the struggle here, which began last May when Agriprocessors, a kosher meat processing plant, and the town's largest employer, was raided by Homeland Security. Hundreds were arrested, accused of illegally working in the U.S. A few weeks ago at the one-year anniversary of the raid, church bells tolled 389 times, one for each person arrested. It served as a reminder, as if anyone here needed one.
MARYN OLSON [POSTVILLE RESPONSE COALITION]: On top of the direct impact of the raid happening and people losing their jobs and income, there's not other jobs that they can go to.
DOANE: After the raid, the plant declared bankruptcy. At one point, leaving hundreds of legal workers without jobs. Like Jeff and Holly Bohr. When we met back in November, they hadn't seen a paycheck for weeks.
JEFF BOHR: We're just struggling to survive.
DOANE: Eventually, Agriprocessors did reopen at just one-third capacity, and Holly got her job back. Jeff had to leave town to find work. It means a commute and a pay cut. But it's not just pain in Postville. Last fall, when we met Irma Rucal one of the undocumented plant workers, she wore a tracking anklet and awaited deportation. Just weeks ago, the device was removed. ‘I started crying for joy,’ she tells me. Irma and her children can now legally stay in the U.S. because she and at least 20 others have agreed to testify in the government's case against the plant. Though her son Hoel realizes, while they have work permits, there's still no work. You want to work?
HOEL RUCAL: Yeah.
DOANE: Are there jobs here?
RUCAL: No. We don't have any jobs here.
DOANE: Dependent on charity for housing, food, and medical care, local churches have donated over $1.2 million so far to those affected by the raid.
STEVE BRACKETT [PASTOR, ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH]: Postville is an excellent opportunity for our elected officials, for our president, the administration, to come and see what immigration raids do to communities. We have the evidence right here.
DOANE: Evidence on the front lawns here, signs that communities like Postville are at the center of the immigration debate. Seth Doane, CBS News, Postville, Iowa.
—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Like cancer, or staining
June 15, 2009 - 11:54 ET by ThisnThatLike cancer, or staining your house, or erosion ... let it go too long, and you've got a potential disaster. Illegal people need to be caught, arrested, fined, and deported early. Where were the local and state officials when this plant was hiring illegals, and where were they during mistreatment? It's too late for them to cry foul now.
And it's beyond disgraceful for the MSM to come out in full support of illegal activity, and try to pin the blame of misfortune squarely on the back of United States citizens who are here legally and lawfully.
___________________________________
Liberals constantly demand that we accept a glaring falsehood as truth; Obama's elimination of the word "terror" will make terrorist acts less terrifying
TnT
June 15, 2009 - 14:58 ET by DoktorFrankenYou really cannot blame the Media. They're just following Hussein's lead after his 'Blame America Apology Tour'. And since Hussein has been declared a god by the Media they are just doing their disciple-like work in his name.
The law - well, now, just what is the law anymore?? Is it what has been approved and passed by duly elected officials and put on the 'books'? Or is it, as it is turning out, whatever the Left says it is?
We report, the Media decides.
Dok... Good point, look
June 15, 2009 - 15:05 ET by bigtimerDok...
Good point, look at the recent legislation going around Sandford to get what they want, a sitting Governor.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
illegal immigration
June 15, 2009 - 12:09 ET by hiltongroganIt has always been profitable to break the law. The perverted emphasis on how much money has been lost in Postville highlights the idea that we should allow illegal activities if shutting them down causes hardship.
When we lived in the former Soviet Union we were never surprized by corruption, partially applied laws, etc. Anything went because there was no rule of law.. it was the law for you but not him, the law if we want to enforce it..you have money..ok, no law for you.
The USA is now a place of no rule of law as well. Sanctuary cities where the law won't apply or because this town makes too much by allowing the law to be broken so it won't apply.
Can i start an illegal business if it benifits the community?
Criminal Enterprise
June 15, 2009 - 12:14 ET by jaywl389 criminals were arrested at the plant. Since that left "hundreds" behind, legals I suppose, it figures that most employees were criminals, along with management. If this town had a whorehouse run by the mafia we would be calling the operation a continuing criminal enterprise. The liberal boo-hoos would also be calling for the heads of the exploiters, crying about the loss of the remaining service industry jobs, and setting up an emergency recovery center for town. Barney Frank's boyfriend would also be setting up shop for the effort. Well, I guess that was a gratuitous shot, wasn't it?
Couldn't come up with 389
June 15, 2009 - 12:24 ET by RR GOPCouldn't come up with 389 locals to work there?
Of course not. Because there's no way they're going to come off of SSI or some other form of government assistance and give up the life in their trailer where they can smoke, watch TV, drink, have sex, take crank, smoke weed...all day long if they like.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
Anyone blame the company for
June 15, 2009 - 12:52 ET by balboaAnyone blame the company for hiring illegal aliens? What genius decided to hire almost 400 illegal aliens?
What genius decided to hire
June 15, 2009 - 13:27 ET by Dan The Man 2What genius decided to hire almost 400 illegal aliens?
Hopefully an out of work one. It is not always easy to catch them if they have fake documents and/or if the company does not check their background. Its pretty easy to not check backgrounds if you dont have the resources to do so as it costs money. Who wants to spend money on a worker for a minimum wage job? And think of the lawsuits if you offend some hispanic citizen by asking if he is illegal.
Bal the problem is they are here illeagly and criminals. The plant may have been complicit in hiring and should be held accountable.
Yes, but if the companies
June 15, 2009 - 13:30 ET by balboaYes, but if the companies don't hire them, there's less reason to come here.
Absurd. If they were
June 15, 2009 - 15:46 ET by NL207Absurd.
If they were actually and promptly deported when caught illegally here there would be less reason to come here.
If they were not permitted to illegally consume public services while they sneak about the country there would be less reason to come here.
If they were not permitted to illegally vote her there would be less reason for them to come here.
If their children born here were not permitted to become citizens unless their parents were legally here at the time of birth there would be less reason for them to come here.
If they were shot while they were sneaking across the border there would be less reason to come here.
Why do you not want to hold
June 15, 2009 - 15:59 ET by balboaWhy do you not want to hold the companies accountable? Why do you want them to get a free pass?
balboa
June 15, 2009 - 16:12 ET by well99I agree with you. As was stated the company had violated safety laws and labor laws besides hiring illegal’s bet you dime to a donut sanitation laws. Also NL207 has some valid points. Companies can find out if they are illegal by E-Verify. If a company is found employing illegal’s they should be fined heavily. Put their CEO and Execs in jail might give them a new perspective.
If it's true
June 15, 2009 - 13:06 ET by StogieGuyAnd if this town's economy is truly in tatters, who's fault is it? Certainly not the people who are tasked with enforcing the law. No, I'd say that they are just seeing the results of their sleazy actions. And, I say "if" because I'd bet that if one of us actually talked frankly with most of this community's hard-working legal residents....they're probably ecstatic to see these n'er do wells being tossed out on their butts. Let's see, their gangster kids will be gone, there will be less graffiti to clean up and the costs to deal with society's various other ills will be dropping.
As for the plant, if they're using this as an excuse to declare bankruptcy and close - that's reprehensible. Sounds like a poorly run place that simply tried to cheat its way out of the inevitable. Had they played fair, they'd have been out of business years ago. Just imagine the quality of the products coming out of a place like that. If they lie about their employees, God only knows what else they've concealed. They are the ones who are to blame for the town's economy being in "tatters" and not ICE.
I hope that they are actively investigating the operators of that plant and charging those who conspired to employ these illegals. Throw the book at them.
Perhaps now a more worthy company can locate in this community and pay legal wages to AMERICANS. As for the media, this is their typical sob story to try and push their liberal dogma. However, the public tends not to buy it in cases like these.
We are supposed to feel sorry for this company? CBS really
June 15, 2009 - 13:09 ET by pahuberknows how to put propaganda to good use.
- Maybe, just maybe, the company should have followed the laws of the land and not hire illegals?
- Perhaps they can now hire legals to work and pay them adaquately?
- If the company cannot do business legaly then I hope it does go out of business.
* In the long run this can be a wake-up call to other companies on how not to do business... but our country through Obama and the MSM is encouraging companies to break the law in their hiring practices... thanks CBS.
You in the msm and your
June 15, 2009 - 13:18 ET by bigtimerYou in the msm and your damned reporting like this are one of our biggest problems, you really are the enemy within.
Win are we going to ever win against these filthy b#stard$ and their obvious agendas!
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
I live in Iowa, and like so
June 15, 2009 - 14:23 ET by pitter43I live in Iowa, and like so many places, there are Americans desperately looking for work. If they'd bothered to hire Americans in the first place, this wouldn't have affected the town one bit. Follow the law and you'll be OK. Break in and there are consequences for everyone.
You got to be kidding
June 15, 2009 - 14:36 ET by jacktheripperboo whooing because ICE is doing it's job and the local gov. looks the other way when crime activity is going on right in front of them! The whole town shoul;d be ashamed !!!!!
Let me go and grab my crying
June 15, 2009 - 15:24 ET by ROTORHEAD77Let me go and grab my crying towel! My word, this is pathetic! Send them all home, and no immunity for illegals. They are CRIMINALS!!!
The company doesn't want to
June 15, 2009 - 15:54 ET by George S PattonThe company doesn't want to pay competitive wages, (kosher food, greedy liberal jews who support obama?). There are plenty of poor white South Africans who would jump at the chance to come to America, bring them here legally instead of illegal aliens and muslim africans.
Fault the employer?
June 15, 2009 - 18:05 ET by slickwillie2001You can't condemn companies that have illegals at work until you look at exactly how they processed those employees, in great detail. If a company takes measures above and beyond what the federal government prescribes, the federal government can fine them for discrimination, even if the person does turn out to be illegal.
The companies can also be fined if they don't take the measures that the federal government allows, and something like this happens. There's a file line between these two bounds that they have to walk. I won't condemn the company until all these details are known.
For example if someone that appears to be Mexican has a Social Security card in the name of Lee Wong, and the Social Security check system returns a confirmation that it's a valid number, the employer cannot do anything more to question the worker's documentation.
At the same time, the democratics now want to shut down the SS online checking process. Don't know where that effort is at this moment.
slick
June 15, 2009 - 18:17 ET by well99With E-verify it is easier to check.Too many companies like Swift and construction companies get away with it.At least where I live.Yes the Dems want to shut down E-Verify because it is very effective.It is like 97% or something similar.
Postville's troubles began years ago
June 15, 2009 - 20:53 ET by nkviking75Doane: "It all started May 12th, when hundreds of federal immigration authorities raided Agriprocessors and arrested 389 workers."
No, it started years ago when a group of Hasidic Jews came to Postville to start Agriprocessors and decided to hire hundreds of illegal Hispanics to work in their packing plant. Neither group was prominent in Postville, and the sudden demographic shift wracked the town for years.
This page is from a service at Iowa State University to provide educational video to Iowa's schools. It lists a documentary produced by Iowa Public Television and released all the way back in 2000. It's called Postville: When Cultures Collide. That's one clear sign that Postville's troubles are far more than a year old.
A group of unscrupulous owners and a group of workers willing to fly under the legal radar combined to ignore the rules for their own profit. The results were predictable. It's not the government's fault; it's theirs.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Article IV Section 4.
June 15, 2009 - 22:26 ET by StokeyBobI think they should uphold the rule of law and govern by the rules set forth by the United States Constitution, as they swore they would with their oaths of office.
Back in the sixties the government came into the schools and brainwashed us with the idea we needed to control the population because it was rising so fast. They said the roads would become crowded and we would run out of things like water.
They unleashed abortions, birth control pills, and other forms of Family Planning.
To allow the country to be over run with the criminals in businesses illegal labor while the criminals in the government aid and abet the invasion is a travesty against mankind.
They have seen to it our children were killed to control the population at the same time allowing the world to export their population problems here.
What about our sacrifices, many made against our will?
P.S. We still haven't recovered from the last time the criminals in business were allowed to bring in their slaves.
Illegal Aliens
June 16, 2009 - 05:59 ET by Delaware BobI can't say the ILLEGAL ALIENS are completely to blame for the shape of our economy, but they are a BIG part of the problem. The ILLEGAL ALIENS send BILLIONS upon BILLIONS out of this Country every year, money we will NEVER see again. Does this help our economy?
How about the BILLIONS the American taxpayers fork out for the ILLEGAL ALIEN BABIES, the schooling of them, the medical care and the list goes on, and on, and on.
How about the MILLIONS upon MILLIONS paid to jail ILLEGAL ALIENS for the crimes, then the cost to deport them. Does this help our economy?
Then you have these activist groups, the Catholic Church and the ACLU that want AMNESTY for these ILLEGAL ALIENS. It would be absolute suicide for this Country if AMNESTY were granted to the 20 million or so ILLEGAL ALIENS. We have more and more people out of work everyday and they want to add another 20 million to this Country? I say, "NO"!
If AMNESTY were ever granted to these 20 million ILLEGAL ALIENS, you can bet big money that 3 years from now, there would be ANOTHER 3-5 million ILLEGAL ALIENS demonstrating on our soil for AMNESTY.
An end MUST come to this illegal immigration. The perfect tool we have so far is E-Verify. It MUST be used by ALL businesses and Government Social Services. EVERY employee must be checked! If they are illegal, they are to be dismissed!
I believe it is time for all 50 States to pass a State law, like Arizona, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina and a few others. It is time for these ILLEGAL ALIENS to go back to their home Country and get out of this Country. The problems they are causing will not go away until the ILLEGAL ALIENS are out of this Country.
It's time for ZERO TOLERENCE with these ILLEGAL ALIENS. It's time for them to get back to their home country where they belong. If they truly want to be part of America, apply to come here like the millions waiting to come here LEGALLY. Then you will be welcomed with open arms.