Raids in 6 states may be largest ever (ICE & Homeland Security make 'SWIFT" move.. 1,282 arrests)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 12/13/06 | Jennifer Tanhelm - ap

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON - More than 1,200 people were arrested in meatpacking plants in six states during raids that federal officials said amounted to the largest-ever workplace crackdown on illegal immigration.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Wednesday the investigation uncovered a "disturbing front" in the war against illegal immigration, in which illegal immigrants are using the identities of U.S. citizens to obtain jobs.

"Violations of our immigration laws and privacy rights often go hand in hand," he said. "Enforcement actions like this one protect the privacy rights of innocent Americans while striking a blow against illegal immigration."

The raids at Swift & Co. plants across the country resulted in 1,282 arrests, including 1,217 on immigration charges and 65 on criminal charges such as identity theft. Chertoff said the investigation is continuing into several groups that may have sold identity documents to illegal immigrants.

The arrested workers were from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Peru, Laos, Sudan, Ethiopia and other countries.

During a raid Tuesday at the Swift plant in Greeley, Colo., a frustrated Tony Garcia watched as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents swarmed inside to arrest illegal immigrants. "We need help, we need answers," he said, questioning who would take care of the children whose parents were arrested.

The raids followed a 10-month investigation into illegal immigrants suspected of buying or stealing other people's identities to secure U.S. jobs. The scheme may have had hundreds victims, officials said.

Immigration officials last month informed Swift that it would remove unauthorized workers on Dec. 4, but Swift asked a federal judge to prevent agents from conducting the raid, arguing it would cause "substantial and irreparable injury" to its business.

The company estimated a raid would remove up to 40 percent of its 13,000 workers. Greeley-based Swift describes itself as the world's second-largest meat processor with sales of about $9 billion.

After a closed hearing, a judge on Thursday rejected Swift's request, clearing the way for Tuesday's raids at the plants in Greeley; Grand Island; Cactus, Texas; Hyrum, Utah; Marshalltown, Iowa; and Worthington, Minn.

The six plants represent all of Swift's domestic beef processing capacity and 77 percent of its pork processing capacity.

Advocates of stricter immigration control praised the raids and pointed out that they targeted people suspected of committing other crimes in addition to being in the U.S. illegally.

"I'm glad that ICE is enforcing our immigration laws in light of the illegal immigration crisis we face across the country," Sen. Wayne Allard (news, bio, voting record), R-Colo., said in a statement.

Others called the raids heavy-handed and criticized the effect on families.

"They are taking mothers and fathers, and we're really concerned about the children," said the Rev. Clarence Sandoval of St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Church in Logan, Utah. "I'm getting calls from mothers saying they don't know where their husband was taken."

United Food and Commercial International Workers union spokeswoman Jill Cashen told the Post workers taken from the Worthington, Minn., plant were bused to South Dakota.

She said Tuesday that attorneys for the union would ask federal judges in all six states for injunctions to halt the raids.

Mexico's Foreign Relations Department also pledged to ensure that any Mexicans caught up in the raids have "their human rights fully respected, and are given all the necessary assistance, orientation and consular protection."

No charges were filed against Swift.

In a written statement, President and CEO Sam Rovit said the company has never knowingly hired illegal workers and does not condone the practice.

Swift uses a government pilot program to confirm whether Social Security numbers are valid. Company officials have raised questions about the program's ability to detect when two people are using the same number.

Immigration agents have also staged immigration raids at poultry plants in the South. In July 2005, nearly 120 people were arrested at an Arkadelphia, Ark., facility. Three months ago, agents raided a poultry plant in Stillmore, Ga., arresting a similar number who worked there or lived in surrounding counties and busing them to immigration courts in Atlanta, 189 miles away.

___

Associated Press Writer Kim Nguyen contributed to this story.

[Bonaparte]

Gillett, George N Jr. (Booth Creek Management Corp./Chairm), (Zip code: 81657) $5000 to DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE on 01/28/04

I'm sure this is just the tip of the iceberg.

[ASA Vet]

It will fling 300 pounds. Heavier loads than that would have to be split up into smaller loads.
It would have to be fairly close to the border.
The landings are rough so few would return for a 2nd free flight.

[ASA Vet]

Judges and Lawyers should be on the first flights.

[VeniVidiVici]

Why punish Swift? They followed the correct procedure for checking validity of SS numbers. They haven't even been charged with anything. With the information we have so far, Swift is a victim, not a perpetrator.

And yet when faced with evidence they did hire illegal workers and informed ahead of time that those illegal workers were going to be removed, Swift ran to court to stop Immigration from removing the illegal workers.

They should be shut down and their assets seized.

[Firefish]

Throw his a$$ on the bus too. Get them all the he!! out of my country!

[wolfcreek]

"Board of Swift & Co."


Thanks for the info! Guess is doesn't matter who they contribute to but, why. Bet they didn't give a dime to
Tancredo or Hunter.

[Recall]

This is the biggest bunch of BULL. PLEASE, don't believe our govt is really doing something..

1. ICE told Swift in November they were going to conduct the raids.

2. Swift took it to court (I think that was Dec 4) and lost. They have known since at least Dec 7, the raids were going to take place.

3. Then Swift fired 400 employees prior to the raids. Probably a publicity move (see we are doing something) or maybe workers they wanted to get back on board when things calmed down??

4. And, hundreds didn't show up for work Tuesday as they had also been tipped off. I guess those that were caught was in Swift's eyes "collateral damage."

Btw, I read they took them to S.D.

[Tarkus2040]

I'd say the conversation between Homeland Security and Swift went something like this:

Chertoff: "Okay, you're not in any trouble here. All we want to do is bust a bunch of illegals in order to fool the American public into thinking that Homeland Security and ICE are actually doing something about illegal immigration. Oh, and don't worry about the workers you've lost in the "raid." With a few thousand illegals pouring over the border every day, I'm sure you'll be replenished in no time. After all, there are websites and places they can go to in search of meat processing plants throughout the country. Oh, silly me... you already knew about that. So don't worry none; we'll do our best to keep that desperate flow of "immigrants" comin' in your direction. Feliz Navidad!"

Swift CEO: "Oh thank you, Mr. Chertoff! I was looking forward to giving myself a huge bonus at the end of the year, along with building a multi-million dollar mansion on the French Riviera! Thanks again, Skeletor!"

[Recall]

I'll bet DHS got an anonymous tip.--

***

They have had thousands of tips! There are people calling and faxing. Internet sites have been running a long time that are dedicated to reporting illegals and businesses have beeen set up. And, identity theft has been going on for a long time. I read about a woman in CA who got a letter from the IRS saying she owed over a million dollars. The short version of her story is it took years to get the Feds to do anything even after they knew about it. Turned out her identity was being used in 18 different states (various illegals).

[Recall]

You mean besides the fact they are representative of big business, free trade and make around $9 billion a year (much of which probably greases the palms of political candidates)

[redgolum]

This is pretty local for me, and it is kind of funny what the reactions are. My plant has a number of Hispanics, and they are mad at the ID thieves. Most of the guys at the plant came in fairly legally (one is a Regan amnesty guy).

[Arizona Carolyn]

Only way this problem will be solved... go after the employers.

[AmusedBystander]

Please direct me to those parts of the Constitution dealing with the rights of non-citizen, illegal aliens. Thanks.

The point is that there will be judicial action necessary to show that these are in fact illegal non-citizens who don't have any legal issues that would have to be considered. Just arresting someone proves nothing. So yes they will be afforded the same rights as any citizen and this will grind the judicial system to a halt if it was to be tried by force on 12 million.

So while I am glad to see the feds enforcing the law which in itself will help a bit in deterring other employers, it has about as much chance as Prohibition did or the War on Drugs has.

[TheLion]

Bttt!

[freeangel]

Jeez--I think she ate her parents.

[Rakkasan1]

PLEASE, don't believe our govt is really doing something..

I don't . Just heard on local radio... 65 of those being charged with ID theft were "released on personal recognition"...

[dalereed]

".....Rev. Clarence Sandoval of St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Church in Logan, Utah.......

Who gets his marching orders from a Bishop in direct contact with a Cardinal who gets orders from the vatican"

The Catholic Church should be procecuted under the RICO laws and put out of business!!!

They are all pulling the same thing across this country.

[webster]

Flora Beth De La Garza shouts at immigration police during a raid at a Swift & Company meat processing by Immigration and Custom Enforcement officials in Greeley, Colo., Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006. Federal agents raided meat processing plants in six states Tuesday and arrested an unknown number of persons in an identity theft investigation. Hundreds of workers' family members gathered outside the plants, with some trying to deliver documentation to relatives inside. In Greeley, cars lined the street leading to the plant.

[Bonaparte]

Being a "big business" didn't confer immunity on Ken Lay and Enron.