More from Postville and Human Costs

The impact of raids like those that took place at the Agriprocessors in Iowa a few weeks ago is devastating on the everyday lives of everyday people. Monica Rohr provides an update for Associated Press:

It was as if a tornado had whipped through the town or a flood had swallowed up houses. A disaster. Man-made, but a disaster all the same. Three months after the raid, that’s how many in Postville describe the events of May 12.

Lives disrupted. People pushed out of jobs and homes. Children separated from parents. Businesses verging towards collapse.

And as in any small town swept by disaster, the community quickly banded together to help the victims.

In the days following the raid, donations of food, clothing and money poured into St. Bridget’s, which became a sanctuary to nearly 400 immigrants, and to the local food pantry, flocked by families in need.

Red ribbons, symbolizing support for the detained workers, still flutter from lamp posts and tree trunks. A sign on one front lawn near the Agriprocessors plant declares: “Immigrants Welcome. Bienvenidos.”

“We’ve got a lot of people here who need help. We can’t just throw them out on the street,” said the silver-haired mayor. “They’re our family. They’ve made their homes here, had jobs here, raised families here.” Click here for the entire story.

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