Browse Films

abUSed: The Postville Raid tells the story of the largest, most expensive and brutal immigration raid in the history of the USA. On May 12, 2008, in Postville Iowa, 900-armed ICE agents arrested and chained 389 immigrant workers from Mexico and Guatemala. The federal government horded these workers through a makeshift judicial assembly line designed to convict them of a felony and deport them. A community was decimated and families torn apart; the Constitution was trampled, the rule of law neglected, due process overlooked, and the human rights of immigrant workers brazenly violated.

 

“The story of Postville will open your eyes and shake your deepest human and patriotic convictions."
Erik Camayd-Freixas Certified Federal Interpreter

“It really is a phenomenal piece of work. I don’t think I’ve ever really seen anything that so fully exposes the injustices and lack of due process facing immigrants.”
Karen Kaminsky, Deputy Executive Director The New York Immigration Coalition

"Luis,

... your film is an important messenger of the truth. It eloquently tells the story of the people of Postville, and their suffering at the hands of a broken immigration system. I showed the film on the first night of my immigration class this year. The students were riveted."
David Leopold President American Immigration Lawyers of America

full review

"This is a moving and shattering film, a wonderful resource for scholars, practitioners, policy makers, and anyone who is concerned about the future of immigration in the U.S.
Hiro Yoshikawa Academic Dean, Harvard Graduate School of Education

“Excellent, both a serious intellectual exploration and an inspiration!”
Bruce Calder Department of History University of Illinois at Chicago

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AWARDS & SCREENINGS:

• Göteborg International Film Festival, SWEDEN
• Oneota, Film Festival, Decorah, IA
• Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano, CUBA
• Honorary Mention, Festival Icaro de Cine y Video Centroamericano, GUATEMALA
• Boston Latino International Film Festival, MASS
• Círculo de la Hispanidad Film Festival, Hempastead, Long Island. NY
• Unspoken Human Rights Film Festival, Utica, NY
• The New England Ibero-American Film Festival-RHODE ISLAND
• Festival Internacional de Cine, Puebla, MEXICO
• Cine Migrante Film Festival – Bs. As., ARGENTINA
• Milano Film Festival, Milan, ITALY
• Arizona International Film Festival, Tucson, AZ
• Audience Award (2nd Place) Chicago Latino Film Festival, Chicago, IL
• Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival, Bellingham, WASHINGTON