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Postville: "There has to be a better way"

MAY 12, 2009
A Day of Remembrance for a Sad Anniversary

Tuesday, May 12 marks the first anniversary of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on Postville, Iowa. To stand in solidarity with the 389 people who were detained and their families, a nationwide day of remembrance has been declared to promote awareness of the devastating effects of raids.

A prayer vigil and walk will be held in Postville, beginning at 3:30 PM at St. Bridget's Church, 141 W. Williams St. The event is a unified call for comprehensive immigration reform, just labor practices, family unity and an end to raids. Text of the prayer vigil and remembrance are available for adaptation for local use at St. Bridget's ministry website. Individuals and towns are encouraged to wear red ribbons on May 12th, and faith communities are urged to sound a call for justice by ringing church bells at 10:00 AM, the time the raid began. For more information, please e-mail Sister Mary McCauley, BVM.

Watch YouTube videos with Sister McCauley

Read An Interpreter's Account of Postville

Ongoing needs : St. Bridget's Hispanic Ministry

Reflection & Testimony-One Year Later by Jim Perdue

 

10 Myths About Immigrants

(Open this document to see why the conventional wisdom about immigration is made of myths)


  • Myth: Immigrants don't pay taxes
  • Myth: Immigrants come here to take welfare
  • Myth: Immigrants send all their money back to their home country
  • Myth: Immigrants take jobs and opportunity away from Americans.
  • Myth: Immigrants are a drain on the U.S. economy.
  • Myth: Immigrants don't want to learn English or become Americans.
  • Myth: There are many more immigrants today than there were 100 years ago.
  • Myth: Most immigrants cross the border illegally.
  • Myth: Weak U.S. immigration enforcement has led to high undocumented immigration.
  • Myth: The war on terrorism can be won through immigration restrictions.

  • Links to Resources, Articles & Initiatives

    Justice for Immigrants

    Sojourners Immigration Portal

    Immigration Policy Center

    Iowa Immigration Education Coalition

    Immigration Impact Blog

    Iowa Annual Conference
    2008 Resolution on Immigration
      Decade of Betrayal Book Review by Jim Perdue on Depression Era Mexican Repatriation
    Decade of Betrayal (left)
    Read the review here.


    Reflections on the ICE Raid-2008