Immigration Agents Raid Plants In 6 States

Federal agents raided meat processing plants in six states Tuesday and arrested an unknown number of suspected illegal immigrants in an identity theft investigation.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said the workers were arrested on administrative immigration violations and, in some cases, existing criminal arrest warrants.

ICE chief Julie L. Myers told reporters in Washington that agents had uncovered a scheme in which illegal immigrants and others had stolen or bought the identities and Social Security numbers of possibly hundreds of lawful U.S. residents to get jobs with Greeley-based meat processor Swift & Co.

CBS News correspondent Wyatt Andrews reports that the investigation began after several legitimate U.S. citizens were arrested because of crimes committed by their illegal alter egos.

Six Swift processing facilities were raided Tuesday, in Greeley; Grand Island, Neb.; Cactus, Texas; Hyrum, Utah; Marshalltown, Iowa; and Worthington, Minn.

"Swift has never condoned the employment of unauthorized workers, nor have we ever knowingly hired such individuals," Swift & Co. President and CEO Sam Rovit said in a written statement.

In Greeley, cars lined the street leading to the plant as family members stood outside. One person held a sign that said, "Presents! No tears at Christmas!"

One sheriff's deputy described the scene outside the plant in Hyrum, Utah, as a circus.

"They've got three buses, a bunch of transport vans, a lot of cars and 150 or so agents," chief Cache County deputy David Bennett said Tuesday.

Bennett said ICE officials didn't notify the sheriff's department about the raid.

"They didn't ask for our help," Bennett said. "We were lucky to find out."

Swift describes itself as an $8 billion business and the world's second-largest meat processing company. In Hyrum, where city administrator Brent Jensen says the plant employs more than 1,000 workers, the company can process up to 2,200 cattle a day, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

Myers said immigration officials were "looking very aggressively" at who may have sold the identities to the workers in several cases. She said ICE had uncovered several different rings that may have provided illegal documents.

Some immigrants targeted had genuine U.S. birth certificates and others had other kinds of false identification, Myers said.

"The significance is that we're serious about work-site enforcement, and that those who steal identities of U.S. citizens will not escape enforcement," Myers said

ICE officials at the plants in Greeley and Worthington, Minn., said the total number of arrests might not be released until Wednesday, when a news conference was scheduled in Washington.

"We have been investigating a large identity theft scheme that has victimized many U.S. citizens and lawful residents," ICE spokeswoman Barbara Gonzalez said at the plant in Greeley.

Gonzalez said federal agents worked closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to try to minimize the disruption at the plants while carrying out the search warrants.

[liveymae]

No matter what I say you will defend those that are here illegally so why bother replying anymore? You are one of the bleeding-hearts that do not understand that, no matter what, they broke the law and should be punished. If they'd go through the process of gaining citizenship this wouldn't be a problem, would it???!!!

[randalds]

Many of them already are doing that. There are more foreign nationals fighting in our military now then ever before in our history. Most of them have or will be offered the chance to become citizens. However if you want that to be a condition for citizenship, then why stop there. Why not require everyone, even those born here, to serve in some form or another? Too many people take being born here for granted and should do something to show that they are worthy of staying here.

[liveymae]

The only solution that makes sense to me, if you are so determined to make entry into the United States easy, is why not make them enlist in the military and fight for our coutry like our boys are doing!!! If they are willing to fight and learn our language, then come ahead. Once they have served a term over in Iraq or where ever they are needed, then they can gain citizenship. Will they be so determined to come here if they knew they had to fight for a piece of our pie???!!

[randalds]

Why do some people always say that they have no problem with the Mexicans coming here, except that they're doing it illegally, at the same time want to do everything they can to stop them from doing it legally? The only possible answer is that they hate Mexicans. make it easier for them to come here legally then you should have no more problem. Right? Unless that's not what you want because that will force you to face your own racism. Saying the only objection you have is that they're here illegally is a bullsh*it argument and a cover for racism.

[randalds]

But they would not have had to steal someone else identity to stay here and work if we made it easier for them to work here legally. Their only real crime is wanting a better life for themselves and their family. If we made it possible for them to come here easily as guest workers or even to live here as citizens they'd jump at the chance and it makes much more sense then trying to kick them out and keep them out, which is not going to happen anyway.

[nadeau4201]

Oh RandalDS...... your sooo open minded, so much so your f**king brains have fallen out of your head. This is about people that came here illegally and then stole someone elses identity. If a legal citizen STOLE someones identity they would go to jail. They committed a crime and something should be done.

[randalds]

Ah but I'm also a strong supporter of so-called "Mexiconizing" of America. I support strong and much closer relations with Mexico, including a much more open border for trade, services and even human travel back and forth. Sooner or later we're going to have to mix with Mexico into one large trade organization or even political one. It's going to happen, so instead of wasting money fighting it we should be exploring ways to make it happen smoothly. Europe is doing it and China will move to expand it's trade influence throughout Asia. We can not afford to be caught standing alone. we need Canada, Central and South America as much as they need us and we'd better do something soon, because the Chinese are already striking deals with them and we're not.

[freezulu]

At least sign the guest book on the way in! Oh, and how about speaking the predominant language of the land called English. If you don't care about our laws and native tongue, then why should we be expected to care much about you or your culture inside our great country? I know Mexico can't hold a candle to America and you want to work and live here, but don't bring that "anything goes" attitude with you up here.

[agnim]

"They'll register at the border if we let them rather then sneaking through a killer desert.

Posted by RandalDS at 05:57 PM : Dec 13, 2006"

Are you joking?

The Mexican government know of your 'killer desert', but is doing nada to stop Mexicans risking their lives.
The Mexican leadership is even supplying strategy to breach the border.

AND WE KNOW EXACTLY WHY THE MEXICAN AUTHORITIES ARE CONSCIOUSLY AND DELIBERATELY BEHIND THE BORDER BREACH!

What is really going on from the Mexican side is an effort to retake Mexican territory by infiltrating Mexicans as so-called 'guest workers'.

That goal of the Mexican leadership (to Mexicanize America) is very very obvious from the sly behavior of that Mexican foxx, Vicente!

[liveymae]

Do you not understand the fact that these immigrants are here on STOLEN identities and FRAUDULENT personal information???!! How do we know who they are if they are not using their true identity??!! Many of them have a criminal background and had warrants out for their arrest at the time of the ICE sting.