Community Torn Apart By Immigration Raid

Fear, Uncertainty Follow Detention Of 330 Alleged Illegal Immigrants In South Carolina

(AP)  When Magdalana Domingo Ramirez Lopez moved to this South Carolina city nearly two years ago to work at the chicken processing plant, she felt at home.

On weekends, the neighborhood near House of Raeford's plant was filled with the sounds of salsa music and the scents of Guatemalan cooking. She would shop with her three young sons at nearby businesses that catered to the immigrants - some in the country legally, others not.

While the sights and sounds reminded Lopez of her native Guatemala, she said she was happy living in the United States - a place that offered a better life for her family.

But those hopes were shattered Tuesday when federal agents swooped into the plant, arresting 330 suspected illegal immigrants, six of them juveniles, effectively shutting down the factory and tearing apart the close-knit community.

Lopez was arrested and could be deported, as her husband was two years ago.

"My whole life has changed," she said as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I don't want to go back. My sons are better off here. The country is so poor. There's nothing there."

In response to requests Wednesday for comment on the raid, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman said only that those arrested were violating immigration law.

A day after the raid, families waited to hear from loved ones at detention centers. Meanwhile, businesses and streets were vacant because those not rounded up stayed home, afraid agents would return.

Just days before, poultry workers visibly filled the neighborhoods around the plant.

The community's transformation was slow but steady over the last 15 years as the newcomers replaced working-class whites and blacks. Neighborhood residents who knew about federal charges against plant supervisors accused of helping illegal immigrants forge documents didn't think the trouble would trickle down to them.

After all, they were only here to give the plant long hours of joint-aching work and local officials didn't seem to mind. That thought was likely shared by immigrants in communities nationwide, including states throughout the South, Iowa and New York who have been caught in similar raids by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Lopez, 29, believed she was safe. But she spent most of Tuesday being fingerprinted and questioned by federal agents and a day later was coming to grips with being sent back to Guatemala. Her sons - ages 4, 5 and 6 - were all born in the U.S.

"The whole time I was there with police, I cried. I kept thinking about my sons. That I wouldn't see them again," she said.

She left Central America because she didn't want her family to grow up in a place where she was so hungry at times that she had to eat grass and dirt.

"I came to the U.S. for work. I came in peace. My goal was to help my sons grow up in a better place. Now that's gone," she said.

House of Raeford processes chickens and turkeys in eight plants in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana and Michigan. The Greenville plant and its nearly 900 workers have been under scrutiny for almost a year as authorities looked into allegations the company knowingly hired illegal immigrants. Eleven supervisors and the plant's human resources director have been arrested, mostly for falsifying immigration documents.

The company has issued a statement saying it never knowingly hired illegal immigrants and was cooperating.

Many workers say they had no idea about the legal troubles or that a raid was imminent.

"We never thought they would come in and start arresting everyone," said 35-year-old Jorge Mendoza, who missed the morning raid because he works second shift. "That would be like shutting down the plant. They wouldn't do that, we thought. The plant is too busy."

Mendoza said he plans to move his family because it's too dangerous to stay.

Greenville County deputies couldn't do much about illegal immigrants because no provision in South Carolina law makes it illegal to be in the U.S. without permission. Instead, deputies who thought they arrested or spoke to an illegal immigrant were told to contact federal immigration officials, said Master Deputy Michael Hildebrand.

Those arrested in the raid face various charges, including re-entry after deportation, counterfeit documents and false statements. All are in the U.S. Marshal's custody and have been processed for deportation.

Luis Garcia, an interpreter in the area, said removing so many people will devastate the community.

"They're breaking families. Everyone is worried," said Garcia, who visited Lopez to see how she was doing.

Lopez is under house arrest and has to wear an ankle monitor until her deportation hearing Nov. 14. She has no money to hire a lawyer.

Her 4-year-old son, Issias, is recovering from surgery. She doubted he would get proper medical care in Guatemala, where she plans to take her children to rejoin their father.

When immigration officials asked her to sign a deportation order, she said she refused, replying: "First you kill me, then I'll sign it."

Several miles down the road, Emilio Espinoza manages the Guatemala Restaurant in a strip mall with a grocery store, bakery and nightclub, all catering toward Hispanics.

His usually packed restaurant was empty at lunchtime Wednesday for the first time since he opened seven years ago. Half his employees didn't show up because they were scared immigration agents might be in the area.

"People are afraid to leave their homes," said the 35-year-old Espinoza.

David Wynn said he has watched the neighborhood change around his heating and air conditioning supply store across the street from the plant.

Everyone knew the plant hired illegal immigrants, said Wynn, who added no one wanted to do anything about it because they figured the workers were doing jobs no one else wanted. With the economy getting worse, that's probably no longer true and he worries what is going to happen to all the people caught up in the raid.

"We need to pray for them," Wynn said.

[frankinaz]

Greed and a me, me, me attitude: This is exactly how the leaders of governments (such as Mexico and ther countries) have operated for generations: They pocket the wealth generated within their countries and the aid that is sent to them. They couldn''t care less about their average citizens; take the easy way out and burden the US, as they have for decades.
Greed and a me, me, me attitude: This also applies to many businesses in the US that hire illegal immigrants; profit over obeying and respect for the laws here.
Mexico and other countries need to take care of their own populations, and the US needs to cut off aid to these countries until they do. This country needs to
bust big businesses (like McDonalds) that hire illegal immigrants, and the illegal immigrants should not be allowed to stay in this country, nor have their "Anchor Babies" here anymore.
There is a cheap labor force that can do the dirty work that some Americans won''''t even get their hands dirty for: It''s not a perfect solution, but it could work: It''s called jail and prison labor-Put some of those people to work for a change.

[wealthint]

Why is CBS even printing this garbage? These people are criminals who are in our country illegally. Why on earth is it wrong for a country to enforce it''s immigration laws? I have no sympathy for law-breakers who were well aware of the fact that they could be arrested and deported at any time. It was foolish of them to start families while they were in the USA illegally.

While our unemployment rate is rising and we are in the beginning of what may be a long recession, we should not be importing more workers and allowing illegal workers to stay in our country!

[bhappy2-2]

I don''''t think so. I''''m not a huge fan of illegals either, but you are talking about murder. If I''''m ever on a jury that hears a case about some crazy dude shooting illegals, just know that I will send your @ss to the vet for the putting down.

Posted by diatreme

NO! I am talking about DEFENDING MY COUNTRY from a hoard of ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS. If that offends you I guess you must be one of the ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS or one of the ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADER LOVERS. Either way, you are welcome to leave any time.

[lila356]

I''m with you ladybug. I think there are many fearful people in the USA who feel there isn''t enough to go around, so they blame it on the illegal aliens. That is the mentality that got us in the mess we are in. It fosters greed and crime and a me, me, me attitude. It also creates racism and division. The same people who complain about this would not even think of doing these low paying, hard labor jobs. I may have a bleeding heart, but I am in gooooood company. When the money goes we will have to all help each other.

[ladybug761-2009]

The point is, yes there is a way to come legally but out of all the illegal immigrants maybe 10% of them are bad apples and the other 90% are working class people. It is sad that these people have put 9 some even 15 years in the US and have never been caught at all. The government is also at fault for not following up on SSI''s that come back as being fraud, but you know who hurts the most is the illegal immigrants b/c the companies forge their information, they get a slap on the hand plus a fine and the immigrants are sent home...next thing we know we''ll have shortages with food in groceries stores b/c there is no one willing to do the dirty work for so many hours and get paid minimum wage.

Again this is my opinion and everyone has their own, but I myself do not blame someoen for wanting to make something better for their children.

[ladybug761-2009]

First of all I want to say that I can agree and I can not agree with some of you. A lot of this discussion is about illegal immigrants and they are the cause of the economic crisis!! That is ridicilious to me first of all b/c there are plenty of jobs that you can go pick fruit or pluck chickens for 18 hours a day that a lot of american''s will not do at all but people expect to have these necessities available for them?? These illegal immigrants have nothing to do with the economy. The economy is the way it is due to lack of supervision of funding, loans etc...big organization due to their lack of supervision made america this way. These illegal immigrants want a better life for themselves the way our ancestors wanted us to have. Do i think that it is right? NO, but I do believe everyone should get a fair chance. These illegal immigrants bring a lot of income to the US but get paid a lot cheaper to do our dirty work that some americans won''t even get their hands dirty for.

I don''t see american businesses turning away money when illegal immigrants buy stuff from their stores or pay rent, electric etc. Most of them pay their bills and the money that is sent back home is anywhere from $50-$150.00/mth and for those world class travelers that go to these countries know that $150.00 is a lot of money period in a 3rd world country.

[bbarbee2]

First off, I do feel empathy for everyone that has been or will be deported because they are here illegally. I am sure it is not a good feeling and is quite scary not knowing what is going to happen, however, the point is these immigrants did not go through the proper channels to live here. They are here ILLEGALLY! Yes, they may pay some state taxes but, what they do pay does not cover the cost of their health care or education of their children or the additional services that ILLEGALS are receiving. It places a HUGE buren on the individual states and us taxpayers especially at a time when our economy is in the position it is. I also feel that if a parent is here Illegally and has childern while in the U.S. ILLEGALLY, then the children were born here ILLEGALLY therefore they are also ILLEGALS and not U.S. Citizens. I do not mean to sound harsh but why should I pay thousands and thousands of dollars in taxes to pay for services for people here ILLEGALLY?!? It just does not make sense. How many other countries offer the services that the U.S. does for ILLEGALS not to mention drivers license tests, voters registration, citizenship tests etc... in several languages other then their native tongue...None that I am aware of.

[wealthint]

Why is CBS even printing this garbage? These people are criminals who are in our country illegally. Why on earth is it wrong for a country to enforce it''s immigration laws? I have no sympathy for law-breakers who were well aware of the fact that they could be arrested and deported at any time. It was foolish of them to start families while they were in the USA illegally.

While our unemployment rate is rising and we are in the beginning of what may be a long recession, we should not be importing more workers and allowing illegal workers to stay in our country!

[wealthint]

Why is CBS even printing this garbage? These people are criminals who are in our country illegally. Why on earth is it wrong for a country to enforce it''s immigration laws? I have no sympathy for law-breakers who were well aware of the fact that they could be arrested and deported at any time. It was foolish of them to start families while they were in the USA illegally.

While our unemployment rate is rising and we are in the beginning of what may be a long recession, we should not be importing more workers and allowing illegal workers to stay in our country!

[wealthint]

Why is CBS even printing this garbage? These people are criminals who are in our country illegally. Why on earth is it wrong for a country to enforce it''s immigration laws? I have no sympathy for law-breakers who were well aware of the fact that they could be arrested and deported at any time. It was foolish of them to start families while they were in the USA illegally.

While our unemployment rate is rising and we are in the beginning of what may be a long recession, we should not be importing more workers and allowing illegal workers to stay in our country!

[wealthint]

Why is CBS even printing this garbage? These people are criminals who are in our country illegally. Why on earth is it wrong for a country to enforce it''s immigration laws? I have no sympathy for law-breakers who were well aware of the fact that they could be arrested and deported at any time. It was foolish of them to start families while they were in the USA illegally.

While our unemployment rate is rising and we are in the beginning of what may be a long recession, we should not be importing more workers and allowing illegal workers to stay in our country!

[wealthint]

Why is CBS even printing this garbage? These people are criminals who are in our country illegally. Why on earth is it wrong for a country to enforce it''s immigration laws? I have no sympathy for law-breakers who were well aware of the fact that they could be arrested and detained at any time. It was foolish of them to start families while they were in the USA illegally.

While our unemployment rate is rising and we are in the beginning of what may be a long recession, we should not be importing more workers and allowing illegal workers to stay in our country!

[babooph]

Had the exec branch been steady in getting rid of the illegals for the past 50 years ,it would not be a big thing.

[wealthint]

Why is CBS even printing this garbage? These people are criminals who are in our country illegally. Why on earth is it wrong for a country to enforce it''s immigration laws? I have no sympathy for law-breakers who were well aware of the fact that they could be arrested and detained at any time. It was foolish of them to start families while they were in the USA illegally.

While our unemployment rate is rising and we are in the beginning of what may be a long recession, we should not be importing more workers and allowing illegal workers to stay in our country!

[wealthint]

Why is CBS even printing this garbage? These people are criminals who are in our country illegally. Why on earth is it wrong for a country to enforce it''s immigration laws? I have no sympathy for law-breakers who were well aware of the fact that they could be arrested and detained at any time. It was foolish of them to start families while they were in the USA illegally.

While our unemployment rate is rising and we are in the beginning of what may be a long recession, we should not be importing more workers and allowing illegal workers to stay in our country!

[wealthint]

Why is CBS even printing this garbage? These people are criminals who are in our country illegally. Why on earth is it wrong for a country to enforce it''s immigration laws? I have no sympathy for law-breakers who were well aware of the fact that they could be arrested and detained at any time. It was foolish of them to start families while they were in the USA illegally.

While our unemployment rate is rising and we are in the beginning of what may be a long recession, we should not be importing more workers and allowing illegal workers to stay in our country!

[wealthint]

Why is CBS even printing this garbage? These people are criminals who are in our country illegally. Why on earth is it wrong for a country to enforce it''s immigration laws? I have no sympathy for law-breakers who were well aware of the fact that they could be arrested and detained at any time. It was foolish of them to start families while they were in the USA illegally.

While our unemployment rate is rising and we are in the beginning of what may be a long recession, we should not be importing more workers and allowing illegal workers to stay in our country!

[wealthint]

Why is CBS even printing this garbage? These people are criminals who are in our country illegally. Why on earth is it wrong for a country to enforce it''s immigration laws? I have no sympathy for law-breakers who were well aware of the fact that they could be arrested and detained at any time. It was foolish of them to start families while they were in the USA illegally.

While our unemployment rate is rising and we are in the beginning of what may be a long recession, we should not be importing more workers and allowing illegal workers to stay in our country!

[wealthint]

Why is CBS even printing this garbage? These people are criminals who are in our country illegally. Why on earth is it wrong for a country to enforce it''s immigration laws? I have no sympathy for law-breakers who were well aware of the fact that they could be arrested and detained at any time. It was foolish of them to start families while they were in the USA illegally.

While our unemployment rate is rising and we are in the beginning of what may be a long recession, we should not be importing more workers and allowing illegal workers to stay in our country!

[wealthint]

Why is CBS even printing this garbage? These people are criminals who are in our country illegally. Why on earth is it wrong for a country to enforce it''s immigration laws? I have no sympathy for law-breakers who were well aware of the fact that they could be arrested and detained at any time. It was foolish of them to start families while they were in the USA illegally.

While our unemployment rate is rising and we are in the beginning of what may be a long recession, we should not be importing more workers and allowing illegal workers to stay in our country!