Arrested immigrants use time to study

While these immigrant workers are waiting for their court dates after the raid at their meatpacking plant, they are learning English. They never had time before, they were always working. DP

Associated Press, Worthington Daily Globe

POSTVILLE, Iowa (AP) - The May 12th immigration raid at the Agriprocessors meatpacking plant has given some workers unexpected free time to study and learn English.

One, Alejandro Bustamante, said he trudges through the streets of Postville every weekday with his wife and young daughter to attend school.

Bustamante said he has found time to study in the aftermath of the immigration raid at Agriprocessors kosher meatpacking plant. He was arrested during the raid and says he spent six weeks in jail before posting bond.

He now lives in Postville while awaiting a court date.

He is one of about 15 people who voluntarily attend Northeast Iowa Community College classes daily at Postville's multicultural center.

A native of Mexico, Bustamante said he spent eight years working 12-hour days.

Amanda Klinkenberg, of Waukon, who leads the classes, said that her students are interested in learning.

"They ask for homework. It's kind of a different attitude from the high school setting. It's refreshing," said Klinkenberg, a former high school Spanish teacher who leads the classes.

Last week they learned how to pronounce "th" sounds, which do not exist in Spanish.

Gathered around a table with practice booklets and yellow pencils out, the students practice the difference between the "th" sounds in the words "the" and "thanks."

Besides living in a foreign land without much knowledge of English, Klinkenberg said her students are still coping with the raid.

Many did not see their spouses and children for months. Other families have yet to reunite.

Some still wear government-issued ankle bracelets that track their movements.

Elvira Esparza said she takes pride in how much she has learned since taking the classes. The 30-year-old said she can't speak English fluently, but now understands basic phrases.

"I like the classes a lot. It distracts us, and at the same time we learn English. We figured we should make the best of it," she said in Spanish.