Protest and Food Drive in Iowa Steeped in Controversy

When two advocacy groups, known for their involvement with immigrants and refugees, gathered a crowd of noisy protesters bearing signs and belting out chants on Tuesday, they undoubtedly achieved their goal of making some noise. This gathering took place in front of the federal building in Cedar Rapids, aimed at gaining attention for their cause. Yet, when it came to the secondary goal of the protest, the collection of goods for the needy, the results were somewhat inconclusive. However, if the real objective was to facilitate the release of a young man being held for possible deportation and the reinstatement of another who had already been sent back, it appears that their endeavor fell short.

Crowds formed on Tuesday in support of Pascual Pedro and Noel Lopez, assembling before the federal courthouse housing the district offices of Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, and Congresswoman Ashley Hinson. The demonstration was coordinated by Escucha Mi Voz, an organization dedicated to guiding immigrants and refugees in social activism, and the Iowa City Catholic Worker, a group offering benevolent aid to immigrants and their kin.

The event was not just a regular protest; it was promoted as a food drive. The crowd was not only asked to bring signs, but also non-perishable food donations to proverbially ‘put food on the table’ of Congress members in protest of their choice to reduce food aid in favor of funding massive deportation efforts to the tune of $200 billion. The delivery part of the scheme, however, became a point of contention.

Clearly, federal courthouses have rigorous safety procedures in place that entail bag checks, identification inspection and metal detector scans for every visitor. Furthermore, there is a strict policy against bringing in cell phones and other electronic devices, and most relevant to the protesters, outside food and drink are also forbidden.

Truth be told, dumping copious amounts of food onto the congress staff and effectively stating, ‘Alright, now deal with this,’ seems rather imprudent. Ultimately, the donated food – sufficient to fill numerous reusable grocery bags and several boxes – didn’t make its way inside the federal building. It was unclear what the next move would be.

The event coordinators seemed to be under the impression that the congressional staff was ‘supposed to collect it and hopefully, redistribute it to a food bank.’ This supposed arrangement, however, was not confirmed to have been pre-approved by the congressional staff. After the event, a group of over 200 demonstrators attempted to enter the building, presumably to deliver the donated food items, but were held at the doorway by U.S. Marshals, much to the surprise and disappointment of the protesters and organizing groups.

Pascual Pedro’s case has been widely covered in the news. He was issued an expedited removal order in 2018, soon after his arrival in the U.S. alongside his father. The two had entered the country without proper legal paperwork. Pedro’s father was promptly sent back, while then 13-year-old Pedro was placed under the care of his grandparents in West Liberty, where he was allowed to live under supervised release until such time as his deportation was to be carried out.

After experiencing seven years in Iowa, the now 20-year-old Pedro was apprehended in early July during a push for enhanced immigration enforcement by the recently instated Trump administration. Shortly after his detention, he was hastily deported back his home country, Guatemala, where he has since been living with his mother.

On the other hand, Lopez is currently held in the Washington County Jail, awaiting his arraignment in relation to charges arising from a June 2024 traffic stop where he was a passenger in a vehicle where marijuana was found. The Lopez family contends that the driver of the vehicle acknowledged possession of the marijuana, however, comprehensive examination of the police report indicated probable cause to charge both the driver and Lopez.

Once matters were investigated further, it was confirmed by a jail employee that an ICE detainer had indeed been issued for Lopez. The situation surrounding Pedro is indeed a tragic one. Despite many opposing Pedro’s deportation, few are clear on the specific procedure that led to his removal.

It is often the case — as most Americans don’t regularly encounter details of immigration law. In Pedro’s case, his expedited removal order was issued under a statutory process that has been around for decades, allowing immigration agents to deport a nonresident illegally in the country without needing a hearing.

It’s important to note that the ‘fair trial’ right as stated in the U.S. Constitution applies mainly to criminal offenses. Immigration contraventions, including those that would garner expedited removal like in Pedro’s instance, are typically viewed as civil transgressions managed outside of the judicial branch of government.