Raid on Agriprocessors Plant

Mon, 12 May 2008 22:18:12 CDT

U-S IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AGENTS EXECUTED A CRIMINAL SEARCH WARRANT TODAY AT POSTVILLE BASED AGRIPROCESSORS. AGENTS WERE LOOKING AT TWO AREAS, AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT, AND CIVIL SEARCH WARRANTS ON WORKERS ILLEGALLY IN THE U-S. ICE OFFICIALS SAID AROUND 300 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED AT THE PLANT THIS MORNING AND BROUGHT DOWN TO THE NATIONAL CATTLE CONGRESS GROUNDS IN WATERLOO FOR INTERVIEWS. OFFICIALS SAY THAT THOSE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WERE BEING INTERVIEWED BY ICE AGENTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE OFFICERS. SO FAR 40 OF THE DETAINEES HAVE BEEN RELEASED ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS, PENDING FUTURE IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS. ICE HAS ESTABLISHED A TOLL FREE NUMBER FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TO CALL AND OBTAIN INFO ABOUT CUSTODY STATUS AND DETENTION LOCATION OF THOSE DETAINED. IT’S 866-341-3858. IN THE MEANTIME, OFFICIALS WITH EL CENTRO IN WATERLOO, ARE SEEKING ASSISTANCE OF BI-LINGUAL PEOPLE WILLING TO VOLUNTEER THEIR HELP WITH IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS AND LEGAL TEAMS THAT ARE WORKING WITH THE DETAINEES. CALL EL CENTRO IN WATERLOO AT 287-6400.