Signs are posted in Spanish as well as English for movie rentals at The Sweet Spot on Tuesday, May 13, 2008, in Postville. Manager Kati Scott of Clayton says that her business is already down a day after federal law enforcement raided the Agriprocessors meat packing plant. Scott says the real indication on how the raid has affected business will be Friday and Saturday when she says the ice cream shop and movie rental business, which is connected to a laundromat, is normally packed with children and teenagers. (Photo by Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
What's Next for Postville?
By Josh Hinkle, Anchor/Reporter
By
Becky Ogann
Story Created:
May 13, 2008 at 5:05 PM CDT
Story Updated:
May 14, 2008 at 11:12 AM CDT
POSTVILLE - Postville was already a small town of 2,300 before the raid. Now city officials say many people are fleeing in fear, not to mention the near 400 plant workers detained.
More than a third of the workers at the city's largest business are gone. Without those workers many fear Agriprocessors will shut down. If that happens, the mayor says 95% of the shops here will dry up. Petrona Garcia's convenience store is the only Hispanic business in town with customers the day after the raid.
"All the shops are closed. Not one is open. No one even comes to them," said Petrona Garcia, business owner.
Her husband agrees it's the worst it could be.
"The shops are closed because there are no people in Postville at all," said Cesar Jochola, Garcia's husband.
City officials tell me most fled or hid after the raid at Postville's largest employer. Agriprocessors lost nearly 400 workers. Downtown businesses lost even more customers.
"She thinks she's got to close it down and get a job somewhere else," said Karla Campos, daughter.
Garcia's daughter manages their family's other store - a diner that usually serves food from their native Guatemala. But now it also bears a closed sign.
"They usually come in and eat, but right now, why do we have it open if people won't come in anyway," said Campos.
Garcia moved here with a dream of opening that diner. Without the plant, though, she says Postville's entire economy could close down.
"There are no businesses. We stay open for the people, but they're just not here. We don't know what will happen. We just don't know," said
The mayor tells me he has a plan. He wants to figure out a way to keep those workers here in Postville instead of deporting them.
He is now working with state and federal lawmakers in the hopes of doing just that.
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Wednesday, May 21 at 7:06 PM Fern S wrote ...
Living in small town USA and being in business, my husband and I have been there and done that. The employment and "economic boost" for the town is so important for our small towns to stay viable and not lose their identity(such as their post office)and be there for those that choose to live there, be active in their community, and raise their families despite being able to earn more money living in "the big city". But, abide by the rules---I-9's?? Look at the bottom line but don't be greedy.
Wednesday, May 21 at 4:15 PM Unknown wrote ...
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Sunday, May 18 at 10:23 PM Be fair and honest wrote ...
Point 1: The only businesses that closed in this town were the ones that were run by people of other cultures. The gas stations were open, Moore's IGA was open, as was the library, the hardware store, the florist, the CPAs office, and the lawyers just to name a few. Point 2: Yes they were here illegally but they only came to better their life the same as our ancestors did when they came through Ellis Island. Only when our ancestors came there were not as many hoops to jump through
Friday, May 16 at 12:29 AM MikeS wrote ...
Illegals don't drop wages down; globalization DOES. We need immigrants, I'm sorry BUT it is TRUE. Get rid of all illegals and some companies will close out, or maybe they move to Mexico, may be to China, Whatever they leave other foreigners will have lower wages anyway. I prefer 100 times companies producing in American soil, paying taxes and providing prosperity to the community they are. WHAT DO YOU PREFER? I don't want IMPORT FOOD... think about it.
Thursday, May 15 at 5:56 PM what do you care... wrote ...
Once again...morals, ethics, principles. Postville might not matter to some of you but there are still humans living in that town, and, yes, business in Postville will dramatically go down. Like one person said here, it's happened before and before you know it it could happen nationwide. P.S. Business is Business. It's all about competition. If immigrants are lowering wage expectations from companies like Agri Processors, then that just means they need it more than you.
Thursday, May 15 at 9:46 AM What's next? wrote ...
What's next for Postville? Well, hopefully it can return to being the clean, safe community that it once was before the illegals took it over.
Thursday, May 15 at 5:43 AM down at the border wrote ...
same things are happening here in arizona. they raided all the business and now no one wants those jobs economy is dropping and now the law makers that pushed so hard to get them out are now pushing harder to get them back to save us. everyone hates to admit it but we need the illegals. so good luck up there. oh and the issue with the whole splitting the families is becasue their childern are legal and cant be forced to leave the country so really they are saving you money in tax think about it
Wednesday, May 14 at 9:11 PM Anonymous wrote ...
Who cares about Postville!!! Nobody cared about it before and nobody will care about it after!!!
Wednesday, May 14 at 4:42 PM Leo wrote ...
Wow...I enjoyed reading the posts...I am in Michigan and we have had a few raids in my area. The story about ICE getting information from the schools (Latina Lista) got my attention. I know some illegal's that didn't send their kids to school because they didn't want to be traced back to their home. How awful to live like that. I do not think you should be in the USA ILLEGALLY. No matter how long or hard...you must wait your turn to emigrate here and LEARN ENGLISH.
Wednesday, May 14 at 3:39 PM duane wrote ...
I remember back in the 80's that packinghouse workers were among the best paid people in Iowa. If we didn't have ILLEGAL workers here now, maybe they still would be...Don't tell me that illegal immigrants only do the jobs that no one else wants - they just drive the wages down to the point that legal citizens cannot afford to live on them.
Wednesday, May 14 at 3:26 PM Anonymous wrote ...
Many are saying the town will shut down, that it will not be the same... Ever thought maybe it would go back the way it was before all of the illegal conduct? Perhaps a nice peacful farming community of NE iowa. Wasn't it there after all, prior to the agriprocessors plant? If you argue they are just trying to make a living, couldn't they have done that before they chose to go there and break laws? They should be disiplined for disregarding laws, or they will continue to break more of them.
Wednesday, May 14 at 3:03 PM NE Iowa Resident wrote ...
"Please quit the amateurish PC-compliant code words folks, and just say what you mean for a change: you want immigration AMNESTY." No, I mean create a process where it the government doesn't cherry pick for immigrants with money, where immigrants don't have to wait years to get in, and where they aren't charged thousands of dollars. Amnesty will not solve the problem, I know this, but neither will constant raids and creating a nation of fear for ALL people.
Wednesday, May 14 at 2:29 PM Anonymous wrote ...
Isn't the Mayor required to uphold the laws of the United States, State of Iowa and City of Postville. Instead of the mayor working to keep the illegals in town, perhaps he should be working on ways to stimulate the economy for the local people. They have made their home in Postville for years despite the fact their home town has been invaded by illegals. People in northeast Iowa would feel much safer if the mayor of Postville would get a back bone and stop letting the immigrants run the town.
Wednesday, May 14 at 1:50 PM tra wrote ...
you are exactly correct the police the mayor the schools and every body else should be in trouble it really shows what money can buy i think they should all be deported if they knew about it get rid of them all and start over from scratch
Wednesday, May 14 at 1:35 PM Fleeing in fear? wrote ...
"Now city officials say many people are fleeing in fear..." I wonder if that's the same kind of fear that LEGAL citizens feel when they see America being taken over by unchecked immigration. Or the fear they feel when hit by an uninsured drunk driver with a fake ID who can't even speak English. Or ... ?
Wednesday, May 14 at 12:22 PM Teacher wrote ...
I beg to disagree with statements that the illegal immigrants take nothing from the government and instead leave taxable earnings. Another posted story quoted that 1/3 of the Postville students didn't return. Schooling paid by the state/federal govt. with another portion coming from property taxes. How do these illegals help pay for the "free" schooling. Also in some cases they work for cash so that no taxes are paid, or claim higher number of dependents so their withholding is lower. It Adds up
Wednesday, May 14 at 11:56 AM Ken wrote ...
sounds like Postville is getting to be like my hometown. We had 75% white when I lived there. Now we have 25% white and 75% Hispanics.Oh I didnt mention now we also have 4 Gangs in the town.Latin Kings is one of them Black Panthers is the other,and I never heard of the other two before. Just wait you will have them to eventually.
Wednesday, May 14 at 8:35 AM Texan wrote ...
I work in Houston, TX and supply products to Agri-P. We have our own immigration issues here. You must embrace the culture and live within the laws of your town first. The gov't will go away and this story will be forgotten. What will remain is the mayor and police chief that were involved and let it slide. Start cleaning house from the top down. Everyone knew, but the dollar is king.
Wednesday, May 14 at 7:14 AM joe wrote ...
D
Wednesday, May 14 at 6:46 AM RS wrote ...
It sounds to me like the ICE didn't go far enough with their raid. They should have surrounded the whole town. It is said the everyone was hiding for fleeing so as not to get caught. Why flee unless you are illegal too. There are many more out there waiting for it to calm down again so they can go back to work and hope for long spell of not getting bothered again.
Wednesday, May 14 at 5:35 AM Goldilox wrote ...
2 helicopters and 100 FBI types; You got Osama Bin Laden, right?
Tuesday, May 13 at 11:32 PM Christian Torres wrote ...
well B. Martinaly i suggest you get to work since you don't need us. if i were you i start right now. ( go right now Postville depends on people that have the same believe) Postville is now a ghost town till immigriants come back. wich they will. if immigriants can keep a city/town running imagine what can be done if we all unite. instead of taking them out. there are over 12 million illegal immigrants what will happen if they weren't here. ( i know B. marline is going to save the COUNTRY.
Tuesday, May 13 at 10:46 PM who cares wrote ...
Everyone knows that the mexicans will be back in 3-6 months anyway. they are just getting a free trip to visit family in mexico paid by the americian tax payers..... No Postville is not going to die just slow for a bit....
Tuesday, May 13 at 10:26 PM B. Martinaly wrote ...
Is Postville A Sanctuary City? Where is the Mayor and what about the Police? obviously someone knew they were illegal I agree with most of the posts here; send them back, there is a legal way to come to this country
Tuesday, May 13 at 10:24 PM tra wrote ...
agra will pay 11.00 an hour now so go get your jobs back................
Tuesday, May 13 at 9:40 PM REFORM = AMNESTY wrote ...
Yeah, right ... immigration "reform"? Please quit the amateurish PC-compliant code words folks, and just say what you mean for a change: you want immigration AMNESTY.
Tuesday, May 13 at 9:24 PM are you kidding me? wrote ...
"There are no people in Postville at all"..............."All the shops are closed. Not one is open." I'm just getting phrases from this article and can't believe it.........these aren't true statements at all...so the hardware store, the grocery store, the P.O.,...these businesses don't count! Yes, there will be businesses affected, but come on, there are still many Postville natives here. If all these people are supposedly legal, why close up shop... to flee and hide?
Tuesday, May 13 at 9:02 PM Anonymous wrote ...
Postville is not a ghost town. I'm glad to see them all leaving. Now the town can return to the clean town it once was. I’m sorry for the children, I really am. I’m sorry their parents made horrible decisions and put themselves in the position they are in. They did this to themselves. There are proper channels for entering this country and their parents couldn’t be bothered with laws. It’s time to take our country back.
Tuesday, May 13 at 8:52 PM lets be real wrote ...
The law is the law. That is being said over and over again. But is that also the case when our corporations go into "their" countries and plunder all the recourses without paying the actual price for it? Who owns American Fruit in Honduras? Or when our government goes into Iraq and breaks every law possible. Not just international laws but laws that would be illegal in the US. If we paid enough for the products that we haul out of Central America non of them would be in Postville!
Tuesday, May 13 at 7:56 PM Postville native wrote ...
Postville was a well to do farming town in NE Iowa when I grew up there. The town of Postville was a great place to live and be raised. My family made an honest living in Postville. I am sorry for the families, but Postville is not the same as it was when I grew up there. The town is not as tidy as it used to be. You can't tell me that over 400 hundred people being arrested and no one knew they were here illegally, come on.
Tuesday, May 13 at 7:45 PM jeff wrote ...
well it looks like the pay is going up at agri.at $7.25 an hour people will not work for chump change that is legal citizens
Tuesday, May 13 at 7:39 PM NE Iowa Resident wrote ...
Why doesn't anyone ever talk about the true need for immigration reform? Instead we get the "send them back" people thumping their chests and spouting off. We'll see how many Postville residents come for the jobs that were "taken" from them. My bet, very few.
Tuesday, May 13 at 7:27 PM tra wrote ...
the last i knew cooking meth was illegal so why are they getting away with it at agra
Tuesday, May 13 at 7:15 PM tra wrote ...
maybe the people of peoplewill rember what american food is with all the restaurents closed
Tuesday, May 13 at 7:06 PM TK wrote ...
I'm beginning to believe that the original residents of Postville and Allamakee county are just as guilty as anyone in this deal. They've know what was going on since the plant first opened, yet they held out their hands for cash while at the same time turning their backs. Judgement day has come for the greedy......
Tuesday, May 13 at 6:57 PM grams wrote ...
what a lid on wages $40,000.00 alot of American citizens don't make that much. I would love to make even the $30,000.00 a yr.
Tuesday, May 13 at 6:45 PM Wha ... ? wrote ...
Ghost town? What was Postville BEFORE it was taken over by the illegals? Did the town exist at all when only US citizens lived there?
Tuesday, May 13 at 6:44 PM taxes! taxes! taxes! wrote ...
If evey immigrant would fill out thier taxes the U.S. would be broke because and there is no illegal immigrant that can make over $40,000 in a whole year. Most immigrants make less then $30K. If they were to file taxes each refund would be probably greater that $5,000 so why such a fuss! Why dont't you multiply this amount by 2 million 3 million 6 million illegal immigrants that don't fill out thier taxes. The U.S. would definitly become less wealthy than they are now!!!
Tuesday, May 13 at 6:40 PM Christina wrote ...
Obviously you people are seeing one side of the story. Let me start by saying that 99% of your immigrants are not getting any assistance medicare or otherwise. If you want to point the finger at people draining the system you are pointing in the wrong direction. Did you know that almost all of those horrible illegal immigrants pay taxes and never claim a dime back? Did you know that if it was not next to impossible to come here legally that they would prefer to do so?
Tuesday, May 13 at 6:34 PM Chris wrote ...
There are legal ways to become citizens...why is this so hard for some people to understand. We need to quit insulting immigrants by calling these people immigrants. If they were immigrants, they'ed be legal. They're criminals. Send em' home and let them come back the right way.
Tuesday, May 13 at 6:34 PM TRA wrote ...
I HOPE POSTVILLE BECOMES A GHOST TOWN EVERY BODY KNEW THIS DAY WOULD COME IT SERVES THEM RIGHT
Tuesday, May 13 at 6:23 PM grams wrote ...
I am not against these people coming to Iowa, if they want to follow the rules, become citizens of our country 1st then get jobs. I am against them getting the food stamps,health care, they are given a free ride and I do not think that is what our Country is built on. Just like the reporters and war they drive this into the ground until they get alot of people upset. I can't get food stamps and Medicare doesn't cover half the stuff seniors have wrong.Why do they reep the benefits,and not us.
Tuesday, May 13 at 6:06 PM Free wrote ...
Frankly, I'm tired of forking over my money in taxes for Illegal immigrants to live here, and be provided services for free when i can barely pay for college. Also, when you are interviewed in America speak English!!!!
Tuesday, May 13 at 5:45 PM Jeffrey A Smothers wrote ...
I don't believe Postville will become a ghost town simply because ICE is doing their job in gathering up the illegal immigrants who cost our country and state dearly in funding. What is a real shame is the media fails to report exactly what it cost the American taxpayers. It's unfortunate KCRG can't report how the majority of Americans really feel about this issue. I, for one am glad ICE is doing their job. As for the families being broke up, all that needs to be done is deport them all.
Tuesday, May 13 at 5:42 PM McGregor,Ia resident wrote ...
Breaking the LAW is just that breaking the law.Why should someone who has broken state and federal laws be given special treatment based on their race ?Next time you get stopped for speeding tell the officer it isn't your fault ..Your Irish maybe he willlet you go.
Tuesday, May 13 at 5:38 PM Jon Remington wrote ...
Postvile made its bed by becoming a home for all these illeagals. I'm sick of all the whining now that its time to pay the piper. what causes todays people, especially reporters, not to understand what the word "illegal" means. I almost threw up when the high school kid claimed it was like Germany in WW2. What a crock! Just pack them up and send them all back home>
Tuesday, May 13 at 5:37 PM what a dream wrote ...
I would love to agree with this articial but I have one thing; to live in amercia you have to live by our rules not make up your own rules. You have to pay taxes like my neighbor and myself. Put into the health care system. I'm all in favor of letting people into our country but do it leagley. I don't feel sorry for the people that got arrested, the children yes they are cought in the middle. Our country has got to gain controll before we loose it totaly.
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