Iowa Governor Chet Culver gives his Condition of the State of Iowa address to a joint session of the 82nd General Assembly Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008 at the State Capitol in Des Moines. (Photo by The Gazette/Brian Ray)
Governor Culver Statement on I.C.E. Activity in Postville
Courtesy Iowa Governor's Office
By
Becky Ogann
Story Created:
May 12, 2008 at 4:32 PM CST
Story Updated:
May 12, 2008 at 4:32 PM CST
DES MOINES – Below is a statement from Governor Chet Culver on the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity today at Agriprocessors, Inc. in Postville:
STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR CHET CULVER:
My office was informed last week there would be an impending federal exercise in the Waterloo area. I was briefed via telephone this morning at about 10:15 am by the U.S. Attorney for Northern District, as the exercise was happening.
The state’s role in today’s exercise has been limited. The Department of Public Safety is providing traffic support on the scene, and if additional criminal activity is discovered through the course of the exercise, the DCI is prepared to investigate at the state level.
I believe it is important that we crack down on illegal immigration. Illegal means illegal. Not just those who cross the border, but also those who are responsible for helping make it happen -- traffickers, identity thieves, those who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, and anyone who has taken advantage of employees or turned a blind eye. At the same time we must take care to protect due process, and consider the impact on a small community and the people involved.
My Administration has made clear to the federal government the importance of ensuring the humanitarian side of this exercise is addressed in the community, and I have received assurances from the federal government that they are doing so.
I have also directed relevant state agencies to convene a working group under the Lt. Governor’s direction to ensure that state agencies are assisting the community in dealing with this event. This group will include representatives from Iowa Workforce Development, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Human Rights, the Department of Education, the Department of Public Health, and the Iowa Civil Rights Commission. Working group members have met this afternoon with the Lt. Governor to get briefed on this and begin working through their agencies to assist the community.
While this is a federal exercise, my office will continue to keep the public and press informed of any additional state involvement.
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Wednesday, May 14 at 5:29 PM Frank Medberry wrote ...
Agriprocessors should have their gates locked, assets frozen and business audited, until all the monies have been collected for the fines and costs of goverment agencies that have had to pull money from their operating budgets to help clean up the damage Agriprocessors has done, and maybe this would set a precedence to other employers to clean up their acts as well.
Wednesday, May 14 at 5:22 PM Frank Medberry wrote ...
If you knew there was a suspisious odor coming from your backyard would you ignore it? The govenor is talking a good game the question is what is he really going to do for the people that have watched their community disolve down the drain, just because the largest employer has destroyed their propery values, soiled their towns reputation and drawn negative publicity, who is going to step in and save Postville.
Tuesday, May 13 at 2:47 PM Rod wrote ...
Put your power to work to back up what you're saying, Governer. The company and it's share owners shouldn't lose out due to this. The CEO, managers, supervisors, etc. should be held accountable for conspiracy, harboring, and who only knows what other charges. If not, how do you justify selective law enforcement? Just like the illegals themselves it's against the law what they've done.
Tuesday, May 13 at 9:37 AM Stephen wrote ...
Thank you, Governor Culver! Thank you to putting an end to the ANARCHY developed at the Postville plant, which was an outgrowth of the LAWLESSNESS permitted, nay, ENCOURAGED by the plant owner / managers. Individuals ILLEGALLY in this country ALLEGEDLY routinely went to work carrying firearms (which they shouldn't even possess!), ran a meth lab INSIDE THE PLANT, stole American citizens identities and Social Security numbers -- THIS HAS TO END! This is nothing short of organized crime!
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