In May of this year, Immigration and Customs Officials (ICE) conducted the largest raid in US history at the largest kosher meat packing plant, located in Postville, Iowa (NE Iowa, population ~2,000).

During the raid, approximately 400 immigrants were arrested and ultimately deported. Most of these individuals were men and their wives, many with children who are US citizens, have been kept in limbo these last months. They await trial to determine their status and whether they too will be deported and in the interim they are not allowed to work (being undocumented aliens). This has caused hardships for these families and the economy in Postville has suffered as well, with businesses closing throughout town.