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By VOA News
27 August 2008

U.S. immigration agents have arrested nearly 600 people at a plant in the southern state of Mississippi in the single largest workplace enforcement raid in the nation’s history.

Officials with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) say agents arrested illegal immigrants, including suspects from Peru, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Honduras, Brazil and Germany.

The raid took place Monday at a Howard Industries plant, a facility that manufactures electronic transformers, in Laurel.

Some 475 were transferred to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Jena, in neighboring Louisiana. At least 100 others, including caregivers and juveniles, were released for what authorities described as humanitarian reasons.

Immigration officials say the raid is part of an ongoing nationwide effort to shut down places of employment that hire illegal immigrants.

An estimated 12 million people are living in the United States illegally.

Immigration has been a divisive issue in the U.S. presidential campaign. Both Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama are actively courting Latino voters, who are expected to play a pivotal role in the November election.

Several battleground states have significant Latino populations, including Florida, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico.

from MoreWhat.com: Hats off to ICE for an outstanding achievement

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Trackposted to The Pink Flamingo, Leaning Straight Up, Cao’s Blog, and Pursuing Holiness, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe

August 12, 2008

ICE arrests 59 illegal aliens employed by Asheville Department of Defense contractor

ASHEVILLE, NC - Fifty-nine illegal aliens working at Mills Manufacturing Corporation (MMC) were arrested here this morning by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents.

The arrests were based on an ICE critical infrastructure investigation that revealed that the illegal aliens had used fraudulent social security numbers to obtain employment. The company, located at 22 Mills Place, has been fully cooperative and is not a target of the ICE investigation.

MMC is a Department of Defense contractor responsible for the manufacturing of parachutes for the U.S. military. Illegal aliens employed at sensitive facilities — such as military bases, nuclear plants, chemical plants, airports and Department of Defense contractors — pose a homeland security threat.

ICE doesn’t believe that those arrested today at MMC had any ill intent against the United States; however, their illegal status could have made them susceptible to blackmail by those with ill intent. Today, ICE has neutralized a potential vulnerability.

“Protecting the integrity of our nation’s critical infrastructure is among ICE’s highest priorities,” said Delburt Richburg, assistant special agent-in-charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Charlotte. “When individuals use fraudulent social security numbers to get jobs, they hide their true identity and history. We need to know who is working on our critical infrastructure sites.”

All of those arrested today were transferred to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office for immigration processing. All have been placed into removal proceedings for being in violation of U.S. immigration law.

At this point, no criminal charges have been presented against the illegal aliens; however, the investigation continues.

Those arrested today were interviewed by ICE agents to determine if they had medical, caregiver, or other humanitarian issues. ICE identified approximately 29 individuals who qualified for a humanitarian release. These individuals are still required to appear before a federal immigration judge who will ultimately determine whether or not they will be deported.

Among those arrested, were nationals of Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador and Honduras. ICE contacted local Consular officials, community groups and other to provide accurate information regarding today’s operation.

Family members wanting information regarding those arrested today may contact ICE by dialing 704-679-6140.

ICE’s worksite enforcement investigations are aimed at promoting national security and public safety, protecting critical infrastructure, and ensuring fair labor standards. As of July 2008, ICE has made more than 3,800 administrative arrests for immigration violations during worksite enforcement operations.

– ICE –

Update: L.A. passes illegal alien day laborer mandate