Feds Lease Out National Cattle Congress Fairgrounds for Training

[efilon]

Heard this mentioned last night on the news. Any one heard anything else? :tinfoilhat:


WATERLOO - The federal government has leased out nearly the entire National Cattle Congress fairgrounds in eastern Iowa for a training exercise that is expected to last throughout the month.

Doug Miller is the general manager of the fairgrounds in Waterloo. He says he's not allowed to release many details, but notes that contractors have installed massive generators next to many of the buildings and covered up many of the windows. A number of trailers have also been set up at the site over several weeks.

The federal government's lease is approved through May 25. Access to the fairgrounds will likely be restricted beginning Monday, but Miller says the Electric Park Ballroom will remain open next weekend for the Cedar Falls High School prom.

[Debi]

1. Bet there won't be any shady business going on at Prom this year!

:scared:

[rurallib]

2. Who is training and for what

anything like this with Bushco still in charge is kind of, well, tinfoil time.

[haroldgiowa]

3. Raid: The scene in Waterloo

WATERLOO - UPDATE: Police officers are guarding both entrances to the National Cattle Congress fairgrounds site in Waterloo where those arrested by immigration officials - who raided the Agriprocessors Inc. plant in Postville early today - are expected to be taken.

A sign on a chain-link fence near one entrance reads, "Consulate and Interpreter Entrance."

I received the above from the Gazette less then an hour ago.

[pstans]

4. KCRG looked at the search warrant

A former supervisor said there was one HR person that had around 75% of their hires being illegal. Applicants were asked if they needed a Social Security # and some were even paid in cash without filling out paperwork.

I saw throw all management at the plant in jail and fine the company $100,000 for each illegal employee. These places will quickly raise wages and hire legal workers.

[Hardrada]

5. I guess the Postville plant owners aren't quite as kosher

as they pretended to be!!

[Bluzmann57]

6. Contacted Braley about this matter

And I have to say that his people are beginning to irritate me. No such thing as a straight answer. I asked a simple question, "Since the illegals were getting paid cash, it is obvious that the company knew they were illegal. So are the owners or at least the HR people going to be charged as well?" The woman I talked to read a statement from Braley which basically made no sense whatsoever. Either the owners and/or hr people get charged or they don't. If they don't, then there needs to be an investigation and quickly as to why.

[Debi]

7. Braley's statement

http://braley.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=91002

<snip>

“I’ll be interested to see if federal authorities will be bringing any charges against the employer. We know that the Swift Company never faced any charges after the raid in Marshalltown, and the enforcement of immigration violations against corporations has plummeted during the Bush administration. Until we enforce our immigration laws equally against both employers and employees who break the law, we will continue to have a problem with immigration.”

<snip>


+++++

I don't think the laws have changed since the Swift raid - employers who break the law get ignored while the employees who break the law pay the price - I can't wait for 2009 and a new president.

[Hardrada]

9. His chief of staff is Angela Ruslander who is a very alienating

person. She came to Jackson County and talked down to us and gave us orders (which we ignored) the times she was here. She wouldn't be any help to you. She is an east coast type who somehow got attached to his campaign. Otherwise Braley himself is aware of these issues.

[Debi]

10. Actually his COS is Sarah Benzing - an Iowa native and former

staffer of the IDP. (as well as Gore 2000 staff member, Graham 2004 staff member and former President of the University of Northern Iowa Dems)

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=IA01&site=ctc

I only met Angela a few times during the campaign and then when the presidential events were being scheduled around the district. :shrug:

[Hardrada]

13. OK, that's good to know. I think I'd like her better.

I was confused by the Braley congressional site which I should go back and try to navigate again.

[Debi]

15. You woud LOVE her! I know I do

:7

[Debi]

8. I am so blind and naive!

We drove by the Cattle Congress on the way to work yesterday and noticed more cars and people there. I remember making some comment like 'wow, we got 'em from all over training here' x( What a moran! They were all getting ready for the raid.

[Cairycat]

11. Has there been much mention of this in the national media?

This is supposedly the largest ever such raid at a single site, you would think there would be some national attention. I've not seen anything, but haven't watched the news too much.

The eldest Cairykitten went to prom at this site last Saturday, though she and her date did not get there until after dark. I'll have to question her about what if anything they saw.

[Debi]

12. Looking at the candid pics from prom

parents/chaperons provided valet services for the kids (I think they do it every year) so the kids drove up to the Electirc Park Ballroom door and no further.

Maybe somebody should send an email to MSNBC or CNN about the raid...hint..hint...

[Hardrada]

14. 56 have now been released from custody.

I think primary and earthquake news have swamped this story.