POSTVILLE - St. Bridget Catholic Church is a place for many of Postville's Hispanic community to to catch their breath... to cry behind closed doors... and for illegal immigrants, like Eduardo Melendez, to hide from the law.

He says, in Spanish, "They grabbed us by the hair and said, 'Hurry. Walk.' Other workers were lying on the floor. Many were in handcuffs."

Somehow, Melendez and his cousin escaped ICE agents during the raid at Agriprocessors. But eight of their family members, including Melendez' brother, didn't make it out. He says the church is now his only option.

"We're sleeping on the pews, because we can't go home. This is the only place we've found to cut off immigration."

Worry of more raids on homes now prompts as many as 200 people, often entire families, to seek shelter here. The church provides food, a place to sleep, and a way for parents and their children to continue a daily routine. Still, volunteers say grief over the loss of so many livelihoods and fear of what the future holds outweigh any necessities they can offer.

Sister Mary McCauley says, "I heard today that even some of the children, the small children at the Postville school, made a petition, and it said 'Do not take our families away.' And that's how we feel."

People know this place is only temporary.

Melendez says, "It's luck from God that I'm here."

Showing his face on camera means he's still free. The interview with TV 9 scares him far less than no longer working and sending money back to his family in Guatemala. For now though, he still has hope of starting new.

Email Josh Hinkle at Josh.Hinkle@kcrg.com