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Hispanics fear immigration raid in Iowa

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By Jens Manuel Krogstad/WATERLOO-CEDAR FALLS COURIER | Wednesday, May 7, 2008 10:26 PM CDT | () comments

WATERLOO, Iowa — The presence of immigration officials at National Cattle Congress in Waterloo has stoked fears of an impending raid and caused some in the Hispanic community to avoid workplaces and public areas.

Despite the installation of trailers, generators and ventilation equipment on the fairgrounds, the presence of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement remains a mystery. Tim Counts, an ICE spokesman in Minneapolis, refused comment Tuesday.

Cattle congress officials said they were told the grounds were rented for a training exercise and that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, was involved. FEMA and ICE both fall under the command of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

On April 24, FEMA announced it was conducting a national-level training exercise in May “to prepare and respond to multiple incidents including both natural disasters and terrorist incidents.” Exercise scenarios included a Category 4 hurricane impacting the mid-Atlantic coast and the national Capitol complex; multiple terrorist attacks in Washington state; and an accidental chemical release at a chemical depot in Oregon.

In response to an inquiry, U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley’s office requested a briefing on the use of the grounds, but was told ICE officials would neither confirm nor deny anything. U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley’s office also was unable to obtain information.

Mark Grey, an immigration expert and University of Northern Iowa professor, said the grounds appear to have a capacity similar to that the Iowa National Guard armory in Fort Dodge. That is where authorities held suspects after a 2006 raid of a Swift meat processing plant in Marshalltown.

Laura de Gomez, owner of La Placita, a grocery store and restaurant, said she received a call Sunday from a woman wondering if it was safe to make a trip to the store for food. It is one of many frantic calls and questions de Gomez and other leaders in the Latino community have fielded in recent days.

(The Waterloo Courier is a Lee Enterprises newspaper.)