Iowa Latino Administrator Calls it Quits

Iowa Department of Latino Affairs Administrator Armando Villareal speaks during an informational community meeting in Marshalltown, Iowa. (2006 File Photo, AP Photo/Kevin Sanders)

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Iowa Latino Administrator Calls it Quits

By Becky Ogann

DES MOINES (AP) - The administrator of the Iowa Division of Latino Affairs has abruptly quit his job.

Walter Reed, the director of the Iowa Department of Human Rights, says Armando Villareal turned in his resignation on Sept. 29 and left without further explanation. Reed's office oversees the Latino affairs division.

Salvador Alaniz, a member of the Iowa Commission on Latino Affairs, says Villareal's departure was a surprise.

The Latino Affairs Division has become more visible in recent years with the growth in Iowa's Hispanic population.

In recent months, Villareal has been a liaison to the Hispanic community in northeast Iowa following a federal immigration raid at the Agriprocessors Inc. meatpacking plant in Postville.
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Friday, Oct 10 at 6:29 PM So wrote ...

Glad to see him go. Maybe all the way back to Mexico..... Keep right on going.

Saturday, Oct 11 at 11:44 AM Bummer wrote ...

Speaking of trendy protected classes, who's the Iowa Administrator for One-Armed Wallpaper Hangers?

Saturday, Oct 11 at 1:09 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Why don't we have a devision for Caucasian affairs? I would love to have a scholarship but most of them are for African American gang members, drug users, Latinas, single mothers, single mothers on drugs and so forth... Why am punished for being white? Good riddance, don't replace him, and lets have another raid!

Saturday, Oct 11 at 1:10 PM Re: pm wrote ...

Your a loser! Pr

Saturday, Oct 11 at 7:25 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Like it or not, cultural diversity is here. The sooner we learn to accept the similarities and differences of each culture the sooner our ethocentric attitudes will disappear. My heart goes out to all the children and families involved in the raid at Postville meatpacking plant.

Saturday, Oct 11 at 8:08 PM get a clue wrote ...

Why do so many people feel sorry for these people in Postville? Does the word ILLEGAL mean anything to you? Do you feel sorry for aomeone who breaks into your house, steals and gets caught? It is ILLEGAL to do that, you know. So, if someone breaks into your hoese, and the police cathc him are you going to say, "Oh, let him go...I feeel sorry for him." Do you feel sorry for EVERYONE who breaks the law?

Saturday, Oct 11 at 8:11 PM So what? wrote ...

And so what if he did quit? People quit jobs everyday. Why the big new article about this guy?

Saturday, Oct 11 at 9:31 PM ??? wrote ...

People are so ignorant that they can't accept change and differences. Too bad they can only comment on the negative. Open your eyes and look for the positive that our culturally diverse country has to offer. After all where did your ancestors come from? Do you even know? When the first people came to this country who did they kick out of here? And if you can remember our country has been a melting pot since white man started coming here! People with a prejudice attitude take a look at the past!

Sunday, Oct 12 at 10:03 AM Adam wrote ...

stfu you ignorant racists. You don't care about illegals, you're just racist. Lots of illegal Canadians in Iowa too, you just don't notice because you're not racist to white people who speak english.

Sunday, Oct 12 at 12:14 PM Captain America wrote ...

Will Iowa be able to recover from this staggering loss? Who will now oversee the appeasement of our illegal Mexicans? Without solid leadership in a critial bureaucracy like the Iowa Division of Latino Affairs, can the end of the world be far behind?

Sunday, Oct 12 at 3:44 PM Re; Illegals wrote ...

Is the assumption to fix immigration by deportation? Half of this country has illegals; whom by the way are honest hard working individuals. Will YOU be willing to do the low paying jobs that illegals will do? How many times have you supported illegals while eating in establishments of those illegals? Low class citizens come in every culture and they all have their good and bad. I would rather support working illegals then give HUGE bonus's and bailouts to corporate America.

Sunday, Oct 12 at 9:46 PM Rob wrote ...

Maybe his green card expired.

Sunday, Oct 12 at 10:21 PM Adam wrote ...

Also, just because he is Latino you ignorant people automatically assume he is Mexican. Like only one country speaks Spanish. Lots of Puerto Ricans in Iowa too and they are US citizens. Melting pot folks, you didn't get to choose where you were born anyway so get off your high horse.

Monday, Oct 13 at 9:21 AM DC wrote ...

To you people who support illegal immigrants you are all dumb. Check this site out and tell me you still support this.http://immigrationcounters.com/

Monday, Oct 13 at 5:00 PM Anonymous wrote ...

test

Tuesday, Oct 14 at 7:46 AM Sal Alaniz wrote ...

It is unfortunate that there be a segment within some of our communities whose comments regarding Latinos be so divisive.Words from an acclaimed movie, "Chocolat"..."...We must measure our goodness, not by what we don't do, what we deny ourselves, what we resist, or who we exclude. Instead, we should measure ourselves by what we embrace, what we create, and who we include." Our work as commissioners and as voices for those we serve, will continue to be focused, embracing and inclusive

Tuesday, Oct 14 at 12:35 PM Ellie wrote ...

I don't object to anyone being here if they PAY their own way and are LEGALLY here. I am sick and tired of paying for people who won't work for themselves and expect hand outs all the time. That includes all peoples.

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