ICE agents arrive at Swift plants with arrest warrants

Associated Press - July 11, 2007 2:54 AM ET

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) - Agents with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement returned to at least one Swift and Company meatpacking plant yesterday with arrest warrants for people suspected of identity theft in an operation that garnered union support.

Officials with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union say agents did not appear to use the "same level of intimidation and overkill" as raids in December that resulted in more than 1,200 immigrant workers being arrested in six cities.

ICE regional spokesman Carl Rusnok confirmed one "worksite enforcement operation" in Greeley, Colorado, but would not say how many people were arrested.

Dave Minshall is a spokesman for Local Number Seven. He says agents had at least 40 arrest warrants for suspects in Greeley; Cactus, Texas; Marshalltown, Iowa; and Worthington, Minnesota.

Five people were taken into custody, though it was unclear where the arrests were made.

Rusnok says details will be released in a news conference today.

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