One year ago today, rural Postville, Iowa was turned upside down when ICE raided the town’s largest employer: Agriprocessors, a kosher meat packing plant.

It was the largest ICE worksite enforcement operation in U.S. history, which resulted in the criminal conviction of nearly 300 undocumented workers who had been arrested at Agriprocessors.

In what was widely seen as the most draconian implementation of immigration law in recent history, Prosecutors threatened defendants with the charge of "Aggravated Identity Theft" which would have carried a heavier sentence of two years. In turn, the "good cop" prosecutors offered plea deals to a lesser charge of simple identity theft and a five month sentence.

The workers were subjected to a fast-track conviction-deportation assembly line concocted by the government and implemented against them at the National Cattle Congress fairgrounds in Waterloo, Iowa. This ‘fast-track’ included pre packaged scripts for Plea Bargains and Waivers of Rights. Amy Goodman reports on it here.

The arrests and deportations affected one in five Postville residents, devastating the local economy. The Plant and it’s owners were also charged with workplace violations – leading them to declare bankruptcy, cutting hours for the remaining workers, and eventually close the plant entirely. Per Iowa Independent, there is some activity to indicate there may be a buyer. Thirty families still await court hearings and are dependent on local NGO’s.

A year later, the Obama White House has indicated a change in enforcement policy – by pursuing employers who knowingly hire and exploit illegal workers.

As for ‘Judge’ Julie Myers, unconfirmed head of ICE at the time of the raid – she resigned from government the day after the election and has yet to surface.

In a related development, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled last week that
the government had been improperly using the charge of aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors had lodged the charge in cases in which an illegal immigrant used a Social Security number that belonged to a real person. The justices said that to use the charge, the government must be able to prove that the defendant knew that the number was assigned to someone else. As most of the defendants have either served their sentences or been deported, the Court’s decision is not likely to have an effect on Postville defendants.

Postscript: As to the devastation wrought on this small community and those now blathering about "unintended consequences", I conclude with a hearty horsefeathers!