Story Created:
May 12, 2008 at 6:30 PM CDT
Story Updated:
May 12, 2008 at 6:39 PM CDT
WATERLOO - The move to place judges at the Agriprocessors detention site is unprecedented in Iowa. The number of arrests and anticipated prosecutions is just too large for the courthouses in both Cedar Rapids and Sioux City to handle. That kind of move really shows the impact of this investigation.
There are more than 300 arrests so far all because of a 60-page search warrant. Jumping right in, TV9 learned about a former supervisor who gave agents a fair share of dirt. This anonymous person says the plant's human resources manager was hiring numerous illegal workers from Mexico, Guatemala and Eastern Europe. This person estimates that 80 percent of the workers under his or her guidance were illegal.
The supervisor also alleges finding a meth lab in the plant, even workers carrying weapons. All of this, not to mention several workers having the same Social Security number.
Those detained Monday morning probably didn't know that several former and current co-workers were a big part of this search warrant. Read through it, you’ll find one of these workers -- listed only as Source #7 -- keeps popping up. Immigration agents wired this person with an electronic audio monitoring device as he or she applied for work at the meat processing plant.
Source #7's audio revealed a human resources employee saying it was okay to work there without a social security number. Others told Source #7 how you could work there without papers completely and just receive cash. A supervisor at the plant even told Source #7 to fix his or her Social Security number to be able to work. Source #7 eventually got a job at Agriprocessors hanging cattle.
What Source #7, along with other sources named in the affidavit, found was enough for agents to suspect Social Security fraud, ID theft and illegal workers at the plant. Click on the related content links above left to read the entire affidavit.
Email Josh Hinkle at Josh.Hinkle@kcrg.com
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Monday, May 26 at 1:37 AM Deanna wrote ...
I am very glad to see someone doing something. I unknowingly married an illegal immigrant. We worked together for over a year and were friends before we started dating. I discovered that a lot of people we worked with new he was not legal but neglected to inform me because he was a "nice guy". The bottom line is my daughter will never know her father. He changed his name and moved within weeks of my finding out the truth about his status. Oh yes, I was four months pregnant at the time. Great guy
Monday, May 19 at 10:03 PM FMP wrote ...
Some of you bleeding hearts are truly fascinating. I especially love how you have convinced yourselves that illegal aliens "do the work that Americans won't do". This is a complete fallacy. The reality is that the influx of unregulated cheap labor has artificially reduced wages to so low that Americans can no longer afford to support their families. How is that just?
Monday, May 19 at 7:01 PM a legal resident wrote ...
what part of illegal don't these people understand? If we go to any foreign land, first we need a passport. what if we all went to mexico and took jobs there? swam across the river,loaded up in the back of trucks or vans or just went over the border illegaly,what would your goverment do to us?? do it right or pay the price--like we would have to do. wake up people-go through the proper channels like other people do!!
Monday, May 19 at 6:52 PM Objectivity wrote ...
BH In the interest of honest reporting, you should have mentioned that Source #7 was not successful getting hired until ICE gave him a valid SS card. Hmm... looks like it's as easy to get in as he was told.
Monday, May 19 at 3:27 PM PostvilleGuy wrote ...
What Crock! BTW, No meth lab was found. It's been a week and no such claim has been made by the government. The blind acceptance of the allegations made in the affidavit against Agriprocessors astounds me. Anyone reading the document with any degree of intellectual objectivity can see that these sources, including the much quoted Source #7, contradict themselves and each other, and make claims based on hearsay that stretch the limits of belief.
Monday, May 19 at 3:18 PM PostvilleGuy wrote ...
What Crock. BTW, No meth lab was found. It has been a week and the government has made no such claim. All there is is an allegation by a Source #7 in the warrant. If you take the time to read the document you will see that this source contradicts himself and other sources in the document on a number of facts. Also, if you live in Postville, as I do, or if you visit the plant once, you will see that turkey processing is on the north side of the tracks, not the south side. What credible sources!
Monday, May 19 at 12:55 PM justanotherobserver wrote ...
The real disgrace is how government tolerates and even encourages abuses of immigration law by corporations. A company needs only advertise jobs at a ridiculously low 'prevailing wage' and show that locals are not taking the jobs to qualify for various visas and waivers. There won't be enough natural born citizens entering the workforce to keep Social Security and Medicaid/Medicare afloat for more than about 30 years. So we bring 'em in, by hook or crook...
Thursday, May 15 at 3:06 PM Pollard wrote ...
They just happened to find a meth lab in their plant?....hmmmmmm
Thursday, May 15 at 11:08 AM Brady wrote ...
I am interested in the legalization process for these illegals before they would come to America. I have heard it takes YEARS -- does any one know or could share a website.
Thursday, May 15 at 7:17 AM Jill wrote ...
I don't think anyone denies they are here too make a better life for themselves and familys. I understand why they live several too a house, and send money back. What I don't understand is why the laws that so many shed their blood for are ignored? Why if I commit a crime, I am hunted and no place is a sanctuary. These people can make false statements on TV, and almost become celebritys. They know they will not be harmed by our Government.
Wednesday, May 14 at 7:58 AM jody wrote ...
if they want to be legal our country should make it mandatory for them to do a 4 year stint in the us military. there they will get food, housing, medical and training to do good jobs. they will learn OUR culture and not have their s pushed on us. they want to live here then they need to live like we do. if in military they will pay taxes. some people are so blind, i am from Postville origanlly and am sickened by the residents now and their posts. they have no idea what Postville really was
Tuesday, May 13 at 10:47 PM EvilKen wrote ...
I wish we could get the criminal records for the 390 that were arrested, how many had convictions for DUI, DUS, no DL, no insurance and etc. But then again, you would have to figure out what name and birth date they were using at the time. How shocking would it be to find out that between 390 people they had been arrested, convicted or tickets so many times. Now, that would be a great news report to read.
Tuesday, May 13 at 10:24 PM Tired of Illegal Immigrants wrote ...
They should make sure they are here legally if they want to make sure they will be there for their kids! Being here illegally should be reason enough to send them back! Kudos to the person inside the plant for contacting ICE.
Tuesday, May 13 at 10:06 PM ancestory wrote ...
Well our ancestors were immigrants, those same anscestors created laws for all to follow. Those ancestors also became US CITIZENS. See the difference ancestors are papered and legal and illegals have no papers and are ILLEGALS. If you cannot comprehend this concept, please return to school.
Tuesday, May 13 at 9:54 PM To a postville person: wrote ...
As this is difficult for the families involved, and i can appreciate wanting to come to a country to build a better life, we (the Unites States) have laws that govern. If you truely wanted a better life for your families, perhaps start the right way and become a LEGAL immigrant. There are big differences between what you are alleging and what is acceptable.
Tuesday, May 13 at 9:27 PM A Postville person wrote ...
Thats bad what ICE did.Think.Woud u lik it if u livd in a country and it was hard to mak a livin.n u move to nother country to mak a livin.n u showd up for work n u did were not a citzen of der n u barly spoke there lang.n so the ICe people came and they took u.n u have a family in the country but u have to live ther.NO thats WORNG for ice to tak them.If u wer a fam or frinds of the person that is getin sent back its sad.n in ur coutry its poor u barly make money to to liv on for a 7days.
Tuesday, May 13 at 6:34 PM Get REAL! wrote ...
A REAL American is one who is a LEGAL CITIZEN of the United States. It's pointless to debate that simple fact. And guess what ... even "native" Americans took the land from those that lived here before them. How far in history do you want to turn back the clock to make your point? Simply crying "racism" every time the immigration law gets enforced is a gutless cheap shot and an easy trap that too many guilt-ridden people fall into.
Tuesday, May 13 at 4:37 PM Alexander wrote ...
It took my family and me 12 years just just to become eligible to apply for the citizenship. All these years we obeyed the law and paid taxes while building our new life from the ground up. We get sick each time we hear about these POOR illegals and their supporters who come out and demand an amnesty, and wave their flags. Also, don't you enjoy hearing "Press 1 for English" when you call your utility companies or your bank? Good riddance!
Tuesday, May 13 at 3:25 PM resident wrote ...
It's about time this happened. The Jews have been running this meat packing company like it was the Wild West, thinking they can get away with anything, not having to meet standards with OSHA, EPA or Anything.
Tuesday, May 13 at 3:22 PM leta wrote ...
an my mother-in-law works at the market and it is just horrible the way these illegal immigrants get so much state help!! after my husband lost his job (because i guess we asked for a raise after a year)i had to get another job to support our family and with the job experience that he has it is still hard for him to find year round work !we are low income but we still do not qualify for the same kind of treatment these people do.I'm all for working for a better life but do it like the rest of us
Tuesday, May 13 at 3:09 PM leta wrote ...
well as a postville resident i fear that everyone thinks that this is ok that these people do not pay taxes like the rest of us and that our children who suffer in the postville school system at a young age. there is more going on in this town than just agri-processing!! i know my husband is a very hard working man and he had a wonderful job making around 15.00 an hour we were a happy family and good taxe paying citizens! but my husband lost his job to two mexican men who work barley min wage!!
Tuesday, May 13 at 2:54 PM Heidi wrote ...
What is wrong with you people. You should be ashammed. Why is eveyone so concerned with the Latins being sent home and not illigal Jews. Maybe the skin color. If the latins were white it would be ok. I have news for you,the people of this country dont want those jobs, that you say the illegals are taking and you know it. It's just something you can use against them when really your all prejudice, closed minded people. I'm not saying it's right they sneek in but they have no other choice.
Tuesday, May 13 at 2:52 PM Jose wrote ...
Don't enter the country illegally and steal my SSN number. You want to come here and work? Then do it the legal way like my family did. These people break our laws start gangs and sell drugs Thank you INS!
Tuesday, May 13 at 2:38 PM Anonymous wrote ...
Isn't our dollar worth more than theirs? Alot of them send our American $'s back to Mexico for this reason. If they are going to be here, it needs to be legally & perhaps one requirement should be they speak & understand english. Illegal workers are all over, like small town Stone City, IA!!!
Tuesday, May 13 at 1:37 PM All American wrote ...
I hope the police and sheriff dept., and city officials, and the owners of the plant read some of these blogs, they let this happen and looked the other way. Can't tell me that the police dept. didn't know a thing, send them back with the Mexicans, they are no better than them, they are part of the problem, not part of the solution. We pay their wages, do your jobs, or were you all getting kick backs for keeping your mouths shut.. Way to go ICE and keep up the great job!!!!
Tuesday, May 13 at 12:29 PM Employed but... wrote ...
I'm sorry, but to say no one would want that job??? Please. I'm a woman, 35, have a college degree, and have been working since I was old enough to drive a tractor (8 yrs old). If I lost my current job tomorrow & needed to find a job to help support my family, I wouldn't care if I had to gut the animals... I'd do it! Then again, my parents taught me that I was not entitled to whatever my lil' heart desired just because I was breathing, but I had to set goals and WORK for the things I wanted!
Tuesday, May 13 at 12:11 PM Anonymous wrote ...
I'm still amazed at raids like this here in Iowa. I have heard so much more about illegals being picked up in Iowa than when I lived in the southwest. You'd be surprised at some large companies that are doing this very thing in other places in this country, like the southwest. Manpower placed in their facilities and hiring people and knowingly using false SS numbers, the people go and come back with another SS number. It's quite amazing this goes on.
Tuesday, May 13 at 12:11 PM leodavid22 wrote ...
Hey peosta, did you lose your job to some illegal immigrants??? get your job back, McDonalds is hiring...
Tuesday, May 13 at 12:05 PM leodavid22 wrote ...
Illegals having weapons??? maybe of mass destruction??? lol...hey Americans, there's a cow flying...look up...what else? math lab???lol...just too much to take...ignorance is everywhere but mostly in Iowa...wait a minute? who's stealing from who? rather be an American who gets a SSN stolen and not an Iraqui who gets killed by an American...
Tuesday, May 13 at 11:53 AM Anonymous wrote ...
Dont blame these people they are just trying to provide for their familys! The real crooks are the ones who hired them! Lock em up every last one!
Tuesday, May 13 at 11:50 AM Anonymous wrote ...
ARREST ALL THOSE WHO HIRED THESE PEOPLE IT IS THEIR FALT!IF THEY PAID A LIVING WAGE THEY WOULD HAVE NO TROUBLE FINDING AMERICAN CITEZENS TO DO THE WORK!
Tuesday, May 13 at 11:32 AM lunch ladies wrote ...
what the kids, bet they get free lunch and free every thing else, what about the American kids,and some adults we know, need help, cannot get it.
Tuesday, May 13 at 11:17 AM Anonymous wrote ...
Ohhh, I'm so sorry Tara. Please illegals, come to America, Abuse our heath care system, steal our identity, bring your whole family, and live in one house, so you can all work for penny s, while the ceo makes millions. Rape our children, kill our brothers and sisters. Oh, and make meth at work all while carrying the Mexican flag. Don,t know who wrote this but I agree. http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977241294
Tuesday, May 13 at 10:57 AM JMT wrote ...
Why do people keep saying none of us are Americans? I was born in America, my parents were born in America, my grandparents and great grandparents... were born in America. I pay taxes into the American system, I have an American drivers license and American birth certificate... Just because my ancestors came from somewhere else doesn't mean I'm not American. Even Native Americans got here from somewhere else. Isn't Africa the birthplace of all humans?
Tuesday, May 13 at 10:40 AM peosta wrote ...
why don't the churchs nuns and priest keep there nose out of it. I use to give money to my church but not any more. They got my job now they want me to pay for their rent/food??? I don't think so!!!!! Don't get me wrong i do feel bad for the kids, but i have my own to take care of. Go home where you belong and take the nuns and priest whith you.
Tuesday, May 13 at 10:00 AM anonymous wrote ...
This is a sad thing for children of illegals. Parents AND employers need to be acountable for breaking laws.
Tuesday, May 13 at 9:45 AM Sarah wrote ...
People keep saying that illegals are doing the work that American don't want to do. Not true. Many Americans that would gladly take these jobs. Want to bus them in from another state like they do the illegals? The employers are hiring the illegals so they don't have to pay decent wages. Where's the blame directed at the employers. They're making a huge profit and denying Americans jobs. The illegals are breaking the law and should be deported. End of story.
Tuesday, May 13 at 9:03 AM whatever wrote ...
How about them using social security numbers that could possibly belong to you or I,
Tuesday, May 13 at 8:42 AM JMT wrote ...
We need to do one of two things. Either stop hiring the illegal immigrants (which we should do regardless) and pay a decent wage for the jobs - then Americans WILL do the work. OR, find a way to legally bring these people to America to do these types of jobs. We have programs to allow professional people to work here legally - why not expand that to all types of jobs?
Tuesday, May 13 at 8:40 AM Tara wrote ...
It is very unfortunate that there are so many judgemental people in this world that are always willing to cast the first stone. These people are trying to take care of their families and isn't that what we are all trying to do. We "Americans", which none of us are as our ancestors were immigrants, are just fortunate that we were born in the US where there is opportunity to succeed regardless of whether you have money which is not the case in so many countries.
Tuesday, May 13 at 8:25 AM Anonymous wrote ...
Read the article. Sympathizers say they are all here to work and make money. does that entail on site meth labs and carrying weapons. Some were getting paid straight cash, and using bogus SSN. Arrest all illegals as well as executives, managers, etc responsible for this whole illegal operation.
Tuesday, May 13 at 7:57 AM Anonymous wrote ...
It is about time this took place and there is a lot more areas that need this done!!! How about the chicken and egg places over by Clarion,Ia. I am so happy and relieved that they are FINALLY doing something about this whole situation, it is so sad that companys can get by with this and they need punnished to the fullest extent of the law, but we all know that won't happen. There are to many loopholes for these lowlifes to crawl through, and they get special circumstances! Ship their asses back!
Tuesday, May 13 at 7:50 AM Anonymous wrote ...
Aliens are taking jobs from the Americans who are unemployed and are on well fare. Just yesterday I saw two homeless men begging for food and money. Give them a job the aliens are doing.
Tuesday, May 13 at 7:39 AM Kristine wrote ...
I love how the company told these workers that it's OK to work for cash and OK to work without an SS#. Boy, how I would LOVE a break like that considering what I paid out in taxes in 2007.
Tuesday, May 13 at 7:19 AM steve wrote ...
wake up people.the corporations are greedy. there hooked on cheap labor!the people from south of the border bring there culture with them.they have no desire to assimalate unlike immagrants from earlier in the century.when will people understand that all the coruption comes with them.if its a rathole there it will be here given enough time.cultures are destroyed from within before without and it will destroy us!as for these bleeding heart catholic priests they want the revenue!PERIOD1
Tuesday, May 13 at 7:15 AM Wow wrote ...
You know how many jobs Ive lose to illegal immigrants? Way too many to count. I cannot compete with a group of 20 working illegals that live in one house and drive one car. When my family has 1 house and 2 cars to split between 2 working people. Im on the verge of filing for welfare. Get these law breakers outta the US and Iowa. 90% of mexican workers in Iowa are ILLEGAL
Tuesday, May 13 at 6:52 AM Rich wrote ...
What is it about ILLEGEL that people don't understand
Tuesday, May 13 at 6:14 AM Anonymous wrote ...
There are actually no real Americans huh? Have you ever heard of a Native American Indian?
Tuesday, May 13 at 5:17 AM Jim wrote ...
We need to hire them to build a wall along the border, but build it from their side, then when they are done, tip their scaffolding over and tell them they can have it.
Tuesday, May 13 at 2:17 AM Anonymous wrote ...
make them pay back taxes, or make them leave. then make them pay taxes like i do, yes illegal send them back, if they want to pay let them stay.
Tuesday, May 13 at 12:04 AM Jody wrote ...
Best yet, they did house to house searches and some illegal was hiding in a freezer and they had to take him to the hospital and I guess we will pay for that too. Even in the raid they are still sucking the money out of our pockets. Maybe now Postville can be Postville again and not little Mexico. The Jews will leave too because alot are from Russia with no papers. The plant will be closed but not due to workers due to fake OSHA reports and child labor. Some of this is yet to be reported.
Tuesday, May 13 at 12:01 AM James wrote ...
Thank God the government is finally starting to do it's job. We didn't "need" these people to do our jobs, Agriprocessors needed them! Send the workers back to Mexico and jail the greedy bosses that hired them!
Monday, May 12 at 10:52 PM Anonymous wrote ...
We all need to remember that these people are ILLEGAL immigrants, not LEGAL immigrants. If you break the law, then you get punished for it. If you are an ILLEGAL immigrant in this country, then you are breaking the law and should go back to the country where you are LEGAL in.
Monday, May 12 at 10:27 PM Anonymous wrote ...
There are actually no americans we all come from some place foreign American was founded by immigrants there just wasnt anything saying they couldnt be here The people that are here illegally or not are hard workers and are making profit for the towns
Monday, May 12 at 10:25 PM Katana wrote ...
Back in the 1980's these same jobs paid about $20.00 a hour, guess what, hamburgers didn't cost $5.00 because of the wages paid to Union members.
Monday, May 12 at 10:21 PM pete wrote ...
300 down. 20-30 million to go
Monday, May 12 at 10:19 PM f wrote ...
Americans don't want illegals but are unwilling to do the dirty work. We can't have it both ways.
Monday, May 12 at 10:12 PM anonymous wrote ...
When ever something concerns a race or the balance between the community benefit etc.. we see protesting. But everyone glosses over the important part that they are illegal and their are rules. We go to another country and are required to obey their laws. How is this different? Yes, it may hurt the communities pockets but the company got them in this position in the first place. Work everywhere is going out of the country and how many are trying to stop it? Where is the work left for Americans?
Monday, May 12 at 9:16 PM Former Postville Resident wrote ...
Immigrants flee from horrible conditions- why else are they willing to do the dirty jobs no one else wants here? Stealing wonderful high-paying jobs from legitmate Americans? How many of us would leave everything to shovel animal guts in a foreign country? I'm ashamed we treat these people so badly when every one of us comes from foreign origin! The owners profit from language barriers and economic desperation. They will pay their fines and move onto another unsuspecting hamlet.
Monday, May 12 at 9:11 PM Del Capslock wrote ...
This is long overdue. It is about enforcing the law and nothing else. I hope that they check the Catholic "church" basements.
Monday, May 12 at 9:02 PM Rick wrote ...
Thats the best thing to happen to iowa, they need to raid alot more places and send there non-american asses back accross the border.
Monday, May 12 at 8:00 PM ken wrote ...
that away to go ice.
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