Posted on 12/13/2006 8:11:49 PM PST by Trteamer
The union representing workers at Swift & Co. meat processing plant in Greeley went to Federal District Court in Denver this morning to demand that more than 200 workers be released because they were interrogated and detained illegally.
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 attorney John Bowen says, “We are saying that the were seized unlawfully, they do not know what conditions they are being held under or they have not been advised of their rights.”
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 attorney John Bowen says, “We are saying that the were seized unlawfully, they do not know what conditions they are being held under or they have not been advised of their rights.”
The complaint will be served on the Department of Homeland Security and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
The Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus says, "(The government)...violated and continues to violate detained (workers) right to be free of arbitrary, prolonged and indefinite detention." The court filing says the workers are being held “incommunicado,” and have not been able to talk to lawyers or union representatives. The government has three days to respond.
The suit was filed in the name of about a dozen individual Swift workers and “all others similarly situated.”
“Up to 200 workers are being held in ICE processing centers in Aurora and the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood, as well as he Park County Jail,” said Local 7 spokesperson Dave Minshall. “Other workers were released and dropped in the middle of nowhere,”" Minshall added.
Local 7 says some of those rounded up by ICE agents are legal residents of the United States.
“I’m offended by the brute force shown by the government in the raids,” said UFCW Local 7 President Ernest Duran, Jr.
In Greeley alone, more than 200 ICE agents and other law enforcement officers took part in the raids, once firing warning shots over the heads of detainees. ICE agents were dressed in combat gear and many carried shotguns. Others took up sniper positions on the roof of the Greeley plant.
“ICE terrorized 13,000 workers at Swift plants nationwide in an attempt to net 109 people,” Duran said, referring to court papers filed earlier in which ICE said was it was looking for only 109 suspects at six Swift plants. The agency arrested more than 1,300 in raids yesterday.
“We did not know this was coming,” said Fernando Rodriquez, the Local 7 director at the Greeley plant.
“When ICE hit the plant, they kept union representatives from telling people of their rights,” Rodriquez said.
The plant is running again, but running slowly. “It’s hard times for the workers. We’ve got to stick together,” Rodriquez said.
Excuse me? They have no rights.
Are these illegals in the Union?
Irrespective of their immigration status these people are being detained on charges of commiting felonies associated with "conversion" or "theft" ~ some of them will probably make bale ~ those who can prove they really do have a right to be here but they will have to prove it.
Now for the union, I think we can see where they get their dues paying members. Gonna' be a cold Christmas in Greeley.
"they do not know what conditions they are being held under"
They can't figure out under what conditions they are being held under? Are they unconscious?????
Bowen... how about English as your primary language?
Even for a lawyer that can't speak English, is very close:
English: illegal = criminal.
Spanish: ilegal = criminal.
Sorry about the disrupted families, but this should not be a surprise if you breath the same air we all do.
If you didn't expect it, you ARE dumb; if you didn't prepare for this 'just in case' you are despicable for thinking your free ride would last forever.
Geesh, enough is enough, get a grip!!!
That is the union's contention and the article also says some were released, same bunch?
Yes they do. Amendment V says in relevant part
... nor shall any person ... be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; ...Being persons they must receive due process.
being the victim of ID theft and paying a lot of many out of my pocket to correct this. SHAME ON THE UNION FOR SUPPORTING ILLEGAL ACTIVITY! However this does not surprise me, I belong to a union. UNION LEADERS WHAT ABOUT AMERICANS THAT HAVE LOST THERE JOBS. And this is BS that they take jobs no one wants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!And for those whinning people who feel sorry for the illegals getting busted when you get your ID stolen meaning your Drivers Lic. and Social Security Number (and mind you I did not lose any of this stuff)and people open up credit accounts etc in your name. And you have to deal with police, credit collection agencies, companies, USPS, etc etc etc. Get back to me on this.Oh did I mention they did do a raid on the person who not only had my info but 30 others and had my name, on about 4 different drivers licenses with just the address changed. Maybe all the whinning people about the poor illegals should get back to the mom whose son survived Iraq but was killed by an illegal in the USA who is suing the feds for 100 million dollars I hope she wins
Typical Commie union thugs. I get so PO'd when I see those Commie maggots always waving the flag. Sick bass turds. The unions gotta go.
Maybe RICO charges are in order for the union!
Oh my, you are angry, and right....
Yes indeed, we need more of this anger to wake people up!!!
That means 11,700 workers are back at work.
“Other workers were released and dropped in the middle of nowhere,”" LOL!, yea right.
Good stuff.
Employers that hire illegals and illegals better beware... Uncle Sam isn't playing softball any more.
This union really looks out for its members. The hourly wage at these packing plants used to be $19 plus benefits. Now it's $9 per hour. And it's because they now use mostly illegals. Some union.
All these union leaders think about is member dues and voting blocks. Maybe if we replaced the union leaders living high on members' dues with some illegals, some light bulbs would go on.
And yet Karl Rove and George Bush and Mehlman and Martinez and half the Freepers (it seems) think that they can win the votes of these illegals by giving them amnesty and bringing even more in.
Yep.
I wonder how much money the union will loose?
If the Communist Union Brotherhood is upset, I'm happy!
"Are these illegals in the Union?"
I wouldn't doubt it. My husband is a member of a union and his union newsletter is published in English and Spanish.
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