The principal at Postville’s elementary and middle schools says Monday’s immigration raid on the town’s largest employer has had a dramatic affect on everyone in his building. Chad Walz says half of his 300 students are Hispanic, but all of the students and teachers are taking this week’s action by immigration officials hard. He’s called in counselors to meet with both.

“So they’ve been going through some hard times. This has not only affected the Hispanic students, but every student,” Walz said. Federal officials say Monday’s raid at Agriprocessors Incorporated resulted in nearly 400 arrests. Walz says 120 students were missing from school the day of the raid.

Many have returned, but he still has not seen at least 40 students. “It’s as if they had five kids, maybe 10 kids, die in their class because they’re not there anymore. That’s what it’s like…it’s like a natural disaster,” Walz said.