Trafficked Laborers For Lucre Holed Up At St. Bridget's Catholic Church
Don Gabacho
Immigrants remain holed up at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church
By TONY LEYS • REGISTER STAFF WRITER • May 16, 2008
Postville, Ia. – Scores of Guatemalan and Mexican immigrants remained
holed up at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church Friday, despite church
leaders’ recommendation that they return to their homes.
“You can see the fear that’s out there,” said the Rev. Paul Ouderkirk,
gesturing toward immigrants milling in the church yard.
The immigrants were worried that federal agents will sweep down again
on the town. On Monday, federal agents raided the Agriprocessors
meatpacking plant and arrested 390 workers on immigration charges.
Advertisement
Officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement have declined to
say if there will be any more arrests.
Donations have helped St. Bridget’s leaders feed the immigrants taking
shelter in the small church.
Ouderkirk said fears were rekindled early Friday when word spread that
a truck with the initials “I.C.” was in town. Some immigrants feared
that meant Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had returned, so
they fled back to the church at about 2 a.m.
Ouderkirk said the trucks apparently were from the Illinois Central
railroad.
Friday afternoon, Agriprocessors President Sholom Rubashkin went to
the church rectory to talk to Ouderkirk about ways to get paychecks to
the workers.
Rubashkin, who has kept a low profile during the controversy, declined
a request for an interview. When asked if he had anything to say about
it, he replied, “good morning.”
Ouderkirk said the company had agreed to pay the money, but was trying
to work out the legality of giving checks to people without being sure
who they were. A local bank agreed to cash the checks if church
leaders would sign papers vouching for the people’s identities.
Officials also were trying to work out a way that spouses could cash
paychecks for workers who were in federal custody, so they could
continue to care for their families.
Ouderkirk said the church would have to be cleaned by 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, when Archbishop Jerome Hanus is scheduled to celebrate Mass
at St. Bridget’s.
lux et veritas
Arrest the diseased dwarfs, seize their paychecks, and deport the
spouses who try to cash the rest. Deport all the illegal aliens after
giving them a severe physical warning.
f. barnes
Fuck Bridget's Catholic church, too!