Shortly before 11 on Thursday morning, two men who eventually identified themselves as “federal agents” violently seized a worker at Bread Garden Market on the Ped Mall in Iowa City. Neither man was wearing a uniform or displaying a badge or identification as they tackled Jorge Elieser González Ochoa, forcing him to the floor. After handcuffing […]
Immigration
Posted inCommunity/News
Sioux City roofer held in jail by ICE sues over being denied a bond hearing
An Iowa man who claims he is being held in jail while facing deportation, without the opportunity to argue for release on bond, is suing county and federal officials for alleged violations of his due process rights. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, alleges the actions of federal […]
Posted inCommunity/News
ICE plans street blockade and checkpoint in Cedar Rapids Tuesday; immigrant advocates plan protest
There are plans to set up a temporary street blockade and checkpoint outside the ICE field office in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, Escucha Mi Voz Iowa was told by Department of Homeland Security officials this week. The nonprofit, which assists and advocates on behalf of immigrants, and members of the Catholic Worker have for years […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa National Guard soldiers deployed to assist ICE
Iowa National Guard soldiers will deploy to provide support for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in September, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Tuesday. The deployment, set to begin Sept. 8, will involve 20 National Guard soldiers providing “administrative and logistical support” to ICE officials based in Iowa who are enforcing immigration laws, according to […]
Posted inCommunity/News
‘I just keep thinking about it. Why us?’ Pascual Pedro Pedro thanks supporters in Iowa as protests of his deportation continue
The parking ramp across the street from the federal building in Cedar Rapids provided shade and some relief from the heat, so that’s where people started gathering before noon on Tuesday for the biggest demonstration yet in support of Pascual Pedro Pedro, a 20-year-old West Liberty resident who was suddenly and unexpectedly deported to Guatemala […]
Posted inCommunity/News
More Iowans sue Homeland Security over delays in naturalization process
A Bettendorf man and a couple from Perry are suing the federal government over what they claim are years of unexplained delays in the citizenship and naturalization process. Konstantin Konev, a citizen of Belurus and a legal permanent resident of the United States for more than five years, is suing the U.S. Department of Homeland […]
Posted inCentral Iowa
Department of Homeland Security moves to deport Iowa couple that’s suing the agency
Federal officials are moving to deport a central Iowa couple who is suing the government over a five-year delay in processing their naturalization application. The stated rationale for the attempted removal of Justin and Victoria Kokeh from the United States is that the couple lied in 2013 when they claimed to have no children. According […]
Posted inCommunity/News
AG Bird drops her lawsuit against Winneshiek County over sheriff’s Facebook post
On Friday, Attorney General Brenna Bird dropped her lawsuit over a February Facebook post by Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx. Bird had been seeking to strip Winneshiek County of all state funds, unless Marx publicly disowned his Facebook post and declared his support for ICE enforcement actions, using language provided by the AG’s office. Bird […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowans rally in Davenport to demand action from Miller-Meeks, Grassley and Ernst after 20-year-old is deported with no due process
By the time Pascual Pedro Pedro’s grandfather began speaking about how his grandson had been unexpectedly seized by ICE last week and deported to Guatemala without a hearing, there were almost 200 people gathered on the sidewalk in front of 201 W 2nd St in downtown Davenport. More than a dozen were across the street. […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowans protest water quality issues outside of event with Gov. Reynolds
The sound of honking caused several heads to turn toward nearby Fleur Drive during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa at the historic Butler Mansion in Des Moines. A small crowd of protesters gathered outside of the Thursday event with signs decrying Iowa’s water quality, which incited the honks. The protesters […]
Posted inCommunity/News
The Center for Worker Justice announces it is closing permanently
The Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa (CWJ) announced on Wednesday afternoon it is shutting down. “After 13 years of uniting low-wage immigrant workers to promote social and economic justice regarding workers’ rights, housing, and immigration laws, all with the support of allies in faith communities, unions, and community volunteers, we have made the […]
Posted inCommunity/News
‘Bring him back now’: Iowans plan rallies to demand return of young West Liberty resident seized by ICE, deported with no hearing
ICE deported Pascual Pedro Pedro, a 20-year-old resident of West Liberty, on Monday. Pedro came to the United States from Guatemala with his father when he was 13 years old. He lived with his grandparents, who have been in the U.S. for over 30 years, and attended West Liberty High School, where he was a […]
