Immigration raid at kosher plant largest in U.S. history (NO MSM)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2008/05/13/news/business/doc4829ea3277c96146436530.txt

By staff and wire reports
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 02:24:31 pm CDT

Federal officials say a raid at a northeastern Iowa meat processing plant this week was the largest in U.S. history, in terms of the number of people arrested.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say 390 people have been arrested on immigration charges after Monday’s raid at Agriprocessors Inc. in Postville, the world’s largest kosher meatpacking plant.

The plant and the town of Postville have drawn national attention in recent years because the plant is owned by the Rubashkin family, who are members of the Lubavitch sect of Hasidic Jews, who live in strict compliance with commandments in the Torah. The laws dictate their dress, prayer, study, diets and gender roles.


Protesters line Ansborough Ave. in front of the National Cattle Congress grounds in Waterloo, Iowa, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are holding those arrested after a immigration raid of Agriprocessors Inc. plant in Postville, Iowa on Monday, May 12, 2008. Federal immigration agents on Monday arrested 390 people in Postville during a raid at the nation's largest kosher meatpacking plant. (AP Photo/Waterloo Courier, Matthew Putney)

Their operation of the Kosher meat plant in Postville was documented in a 2000 book, "Postville: A Clash of Cultures in Heartland America," by Stephen Bloom, a journalism professor at the University of Iowa.

The Rubashkins also own a meat processing plant in Gordon, Neb., Local Pride, operated in cooperation with the Oglala Sioux tribe of South Dakota. There was no raid on that plant, the Associated Press reported.

Bloom's book documents how, except in the course of business, the Postville Hasidim largely kept to themselves, which did not sit well with some residents who made efforts to reach out.


FULL story at link.

[Xipe Totec]

1. Can you be Kosher and Illegal at the same time?

:think:

I'll have to think about that one...

:rofl:

[silverojo]

3. Good question

When I think of Kosher food, I don't envision illegal workers preparing it. I just assumed it was done by Jewish people. Silly me, LOL.

[seemunkee]

2. Why are the Rubashkin family not under arrest

for hiring undocumented workers?

[emilyg]

4. Punish the company.

[DainBramaged]

5. some employees were paid in cash or with checks that did not have Agriprocessors' name on them

Arrest them all, let God sort it out.