Product Description

Postville is an obscure meatpacking town in the northeast corner of Iowa. Here, in the most unlikely of places, unparalleled diversity drew international media. Now people declare the towns experiment in multiculturalism dead. It was not native Iowans, or the newly-arrived Orthodox Jews, or the immigrant workers who made Postville fail.

Postville was stopped in its tracks by a massive raid by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on May 12th 2008. 20% of the population was arrested, forcing the closure of the towns kosher meatpacking plant. The raid exposed the disastrous enforcement of immigration policy, the exploitation of Postville by activists, and disturbing questions about the packing house's operators.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #171740 in Books
• Published on: 2009-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 200 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781934848647
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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From Publishers Weekly
One of the effects of globalization is to bring vast numbers of diverse peoples to traditionally homogenous small towns almost as easily as urban centers. Postville, Iowa, is such a town, attracting newcomers from 50 nations looking for work. Until 2008, when government immigration enforcement moved in, the town seemed to be a successful, harmonious experiment in social adaptation. Postville's financial and social success stemmed largely from a bond with Agriprocessors, the Kosher meatpacking plant that employed much of the town. The powerful sense of unity common to factory towns overcame differences in the population, even among its white residents. In May, 2008, for the sake of political points, the government made an example of Agriprocessors, arresting every undocumented worker-a full 20 percent of the town's population-and dismantling its business. In the process, it unmade the town. The authors build their case study around interviews with residents, putting together a picture of multiculturalism at work; tellingly, however, the authors (an anthropologist, a public health professor, and a city councilman) avoid the question of immigrant exploitation and corporate greed-indeed, the lack of testimony from undocumented laborers themselves speak volumes.
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Customer Reviews

Heartfelt Evaluation of Social & Economic Impact of US Immigration Policy
The ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) Raid that occurred in Postville, Iowa in the spring of 2008 had incredible impact on the community and surrounding area. The authors shared not only their expertise on the history of AgriProcessors in Postville, the history of immigration and policy in America, the growth (sometimes painful) that occurred as a wide variety of cultures settled in Postville and grew to call it 'Home'; as well as the devastation that followed the raid. As I read the book, I was struck by the authenticity of the message. One of the authors, Aaron, who lives and works in Postville, speaks clearly of the adjustment of very different cultures living closely in a small town. 'Diversity' is often glossed over, or painted as an easy process - Aaron describes the growth and hard work needed to make it work. It was very interesting that even though the authors are experts at diversity, their advice was discounted because their backgrounds are not viewed as 'diverse' enough to qualify them as 'experts'.
Living only 15 miles from Postville, and a sociologist/social worker/mediator by training, I was interested in Postville over the years and impressed as I saw the schools and health systems stretch to make thing work. After the raid, I was very concerned about the community of Postville, and the devastation to families and the economy. It was as though a bomb had ripped through the social and economic fabric of the community and very few resources were provided to aid in the clean-up. I knew firsthand that the needs of those affected by the raid were being provided by individuals stepping up and helping out. I appreciate the ability of the authors to paint a picture of life in Postville before and after the raid, to hold those accountable for the process, and to openly put forth the issues which must be addressed in order for Postville to thrive once again.
This is a must-read book for anyone interested in social policy, immigration, and the impact of both those processes on American culture.