Thread: Advocates seek info on 28 arrested in NC immigration bust

Advocates seek information on 28 arrested in NC immigration bust
The Associated Press
http://www.fayettevillenc.com
http://www.charlotte.com/204/story/249164.html

LUMBERTON, N.C. --Advocacy groups are trying to collect names and other information on 28 people arrested in a multi-county raid by immigration agents, to make sure they have legal representation and that their families know where they are.

The people, suspected of identity theft, were arrested early Wednesday at the Smithfield Foods Inc. slaughterhouse in Tar Heel and in neighborhoods in Robeson, Hoke, Cumberland and Bladen counties.

Most of the detainees have talked with relatives, but details remain confused about a few, said Emma Herrera, director of the Workers Center of Eastern North Carolina.

Volunteers with the Red Springs-based group and St. Andrew Catholic Church spent much of Wednesday and Thursday talking to immigration officials and trying to track down the names of those arrested, details of the charges and where the suspects were being held.

"We're still missing some names," Herrera said. "This morning, a husband called because he didn't know anything about his wife."

Dani Martinez-Moore, who handles immigration issues for the North Carolina Justice Center, said the group is disturbed by the pre-dawn raids on homes. Eight suspects were arrested at the Smithfield plant and the rest were picked up at residences.

"We are very concerned about middle-of-the-night raids and the separation of families and the terror that is engendered when people are awakened in the middle of the night with agents at their doors at 3 o'clock or 4 o'clock in the morning," she said.

Thirteen women were taken to the Mecklenburg County Jail in Charlotte and 15 men went to the Alamance County Jail in Graham. Richard Rocha, a spokesman for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, said their cases will be turned over to federal prosecutors.

Officials at Smithfield said about 100 more people than normal did not report for second shift Wednesday, but the numbers rebounded a bit the next morning.

"Attendance was not as good as normal, but it was better than yesterday," Dennis Pittman, the company's spokesman, said Thursday. "We are running a normal schedule."

Immigration agents arrested 21 plant employees in January, prompting the company to crack down on workers whose personal information couldn't be verified. That led to a walkout of about 1,000 workers and the company backed off its action, but about 300 people quit anyway.

Herrera said the January arrests and the most recent raid has Hispanics on edge, reluctant to carry on normal activities such as going to work, school and church. A public meeting was planned for Friday to update family members and give the larger community information about immigration law and how to cope with raids.

"We are meeting to let them know their rights," Herrera said.

"We are very concerned about middle-of-the-night raids and the separation of families and the terror that is engendered when people are awakened in the middle of the night with agents at their doors at 3 o'clock or 4 o'clock in the morning," she said.

Let me fill you in honey...we American citizens are getting sick and tired of your sorry asses raiding our country at all hours of the night on every inch of the border...

GO HOME IF YOU DON'T LIKE BEING ILLEGAL IN THE USA