On May 12, 2008 the town of Postville was transformed from a multicultural hub of immigrants, the site to one of the largest immigration raid in the history of the United States. In a matter of hours the ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) arrested and detained 389 undocumented immigrants that worked in the kosher slaughterhouse.
The aftershock of the raid could be seen in the empty streets of the town, and the broken families left behind. The families that were left behind were faced with many challenges, but for every challenge that they faced they also received a pair of helping hands. LULAC was one of these pairs of hands that help the broken families of Postville. They brought many of the necessities that the families needed; food, clothes and hope.
One of the most memorable ways that I saw LULAC help the families of Postville, was during the holiday season. As the winter placed its frosty hand over the town of Postville and the holiday season began to get closer, the mood for the majority of the immigrant community was somber. For many of them the holiday season was a bleak reminder of their situation. Separated form their families, and with their income cut nearly in half, many weren’t looking forward to Christmas. LULAC wanted to change this for one day; they wanted to give the families a chance to forget their worries and troubles. With candy and presents for the kids, food and music for the adults LULAC succeeded in their goal. Smiles, laughter, and the sound of rhythmic movement on the wooden floors filled the room, for one day these families were happy.
LULAC continued to help the families of Postville, and even today close to the seventh anniversary of the raid LULAC is offering its’ helping hand once again. For many of the children that were affected, the raid stumped the dream of a higher education. Now however the opportunity of making a higher education has surged again in the minds of the Hispanic students at Postville High School, and LULAC is giving them a chance to make it more affordable. With two scholarships aimed at helping first generation college bound students, LULAC has once again given the families of Postville hope. The deadline for submitting applications for 2014 is March 31, 2014. Applications may be obtained by clicking on Scholarship Application link on our home page www.lulac10.org or contacting Matt Casillas at (563)381-7807.
The following years after the Postville Raid many of the families were in shambles, through the generous help of LULAC they were able to find some comfort and a chance to forget their worries. From the families of Postville, I would like to thank the LULAC Council 10 of Davenport for your amazing support and selfless dedication of making sure that the families in Postville were cared for. Thank you!
Pedro Lopez
Pedro’s family was one of the families affected by the raid in Postville. Pedro is in his second year of college at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa studying politics and international relations.
Pictured is Pedro Lopez with LULAC Davenport members Eva Savala, Maria “Cookie” Llaca and Mike Reyes at an immigration reform rally in the QC in 2013
Photos by Tar Macias
For more articles on Postville:
The Untold Story of Postville, Iowa
Five years later: Ever-changing diversity maintains Postville
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