Feds raid Sun Valley, 18 workers arrested
By JOHN C. OSBORN , The Eureka Reporter
Published: Sep 3 2008, 11:02 PM · Updated: Sep 3 2008, 11:58 PM




U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided Sun Valley Floral Farms in Arcata Wednesday morning arresting 18 workers who they allege were not legally allowed to work in the country.

Approximately 40 federal agents arrived at Sun Valley Floral Farms in an estimated 12-vehicle motorcade around 10 a.m. Wednesday to execute a federal search warrant at the business.

Wednesday’s raid came as a result of an ongoing investigation that started with a tip to ICE, said ICE spokesperson Virginia Kice.

Over the past 10 months, Sun Valley Floral Farms has been working with ICE to comply with federal immigration laws, including providing its employees’ work eligibility forms when asked.

On June 6, the company let go of 283 employees hired after Social Security numbers found on the work verification forms came up with no match.

When ICE notified the company on Aug. 25 that 40 employees recently hired couldn’t work in the U.S. — the company let them go on Tuesday, said Sun Valley Group Owner Lane DeVries in a statement Wednesday.

Federal agents raided the company on Wednesday in a search of 52 workers ICE sought to detain, he said. Although DeVries said the company had the “utmost concern and compassionâ€