Events Calendar

With attention drawn to events at the border, it can be easy to overlook the population of immigrants who live in fear of being deported or having family members deported. The effects of raids and other maneuvers by Immigration and Customs Enforcement have deep impact on the overall health and well-being of Latino/a/x communities here in Iowa and across the country. The possibility of raids and deportation cause anxiety and depression, which affect the workplace and schools, as well as the healthcare system's capacity to deal with secondary effects.

Nicole Novak (College of Public Health) studies the effects on birth outcomes in communities where there have been ICE Raids. Her research has included people affected by the Postville raids in 2008 and more recently by the rise of ICE raids in the Trump era. She believes we need to learn from natural disasters and treat people affected by these raids similarly. Carolyn Colvin (College of Education) has worked in West Liberty, IA, for more than two decades and witnessed the effects of raids on children, teachers, and parents in the schools. And Elizabeth Bernal, a volunteer with the Eastern Iowa Bond Project worked with numerous community leaders and partners in the aftermath of the May 2018 raid in Mount Pleasant.