After Sister Jane McCarthy shared her stories with the assembly gathered for QCI's Summit on Immigration, the attendee's split up into two work groups. One work group, labeled "Immediate Needs" discussed plans of immediate community reaction to an immigration raid should such an event occur in the Quad Cities community. Another group, the Advocacy work group, discussed ways to educate the community on such topics as immigration law and comprehensive immigration reform.
Sister Jane McCarthy told her account of the aftermath of the immigration raid and the observations that she had as a volunteer in the weeks following the devastating actions of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
Leaders of the community gathered in the Gymnasium at Our Lady of Lourde's Church in Bettendorf to hear accounts of the immigration raid in Postville, Iowa and to discuss response techniques should such raids occur in the Quad Cities community.
QCI members and community activists from across Iowa rallied on May 18 to protest civil rights violations by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Raid in Postville Iowa on April 12, 2008 and to demonstrate support for the families impacted by the raid on Agriprocessors, Inc. More than 500 faith leaders, lay persons and members of the immigrant community held a prayer service at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Waterloo and then marched to the Cattle Congress where ICE had incarcerated the detainees.