2 with fake IDs claim to work at Postville plant
By TONY LEYS • tleys@dmreg.com • September 13, 2008

Federal immigration agents are looking into allegations that two men who claimed to be Agriprocessors employees were using false names and documents when they were arrested in a traffic stop this week.

The Fayette County Sheriff's Department reported that its deputies stopped the men Sunday east of West Union, which is about 17 miles from the Postville meatpacking plant. In the vehicle, the deputies found 13 false birth certificates and Social Security cards, the department said.


The driver gave his name as Jose Ramon Delgado Hance, but a check of fingerprint records found that he really was Enrique Ortiz of North Carolina, the sheriff's department said. He was charged with using false documents.

The passenger identified himself as Ruben Puentes, but his real name is Crisofora Barrios, the department said. He was charged with public intoxication and having an open container of alcohol.

Sheriff Marty Fisher said jail officials routinely ask new prisoners where they work. The men said they worked at Agriprocessors, he said.

Agriprocessors was the site of a May immigration raid in which nearly 400 workers were arrested and accused of being in the country illegally. Company leaders have denied knowingly hiring illegal immigrants and have said they now are using a voluntary national computer system to ensure that all current workers are here legally.

Agriprocessors officials did not respond to a request for comment on the new arrest of the two men who identified themselves as employees.

Tim Counts, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said his agency is looking into the case. He said federal officials have asked the sheriff's department to continue detaining the men.

Before making such requests, he said, the agency must determine there is probable cause to believe someone is in the country illegally. He said he was unsure where the men are from originally, or whether they've ever faced immigration charges before.

The men were being held in the Fayette County Jail Friday.
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