Thread: CO: Judge Dismissees Union Lawsuit against ICE

Judge Dismisses Union's Lawsuit Against ICE
Judge Finds Government In Compliance In Swift Raid
By Lance Hernandez, 7NEWS Reporter


http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/10 ... etail.html


DENVER -- A federal judge has dismissed the union lawsuit against immigration officials which was filed following a raid at the Swift meatpacking plant in Greeley.

U.S. District Court Judge John Kane, noting that bond hearings have now been held for all plaintiffs, said "the case is over."

Kane said the federal government has complied with the law in handling people who were detained in the raid.

"Stick a fork in it," added assistant U.S. attorney Mark Pestal. "The judge determined that the aliens were accorded all the rights and protections they were entitled to."

Authorities say 262 people were arrested at the beef processing plant on Dec. 12. Some were taken to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Aurora, some were taken to a facility in El Paso, Texas.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union originally filed suit against ICE, claiming not all of the workers were given due process.

"Until Friday afternoon, there were individuals who were taken into custody Dec. 12 who had not had an opportunity to have a bond hearing, and that is supposed to take place within 48 hours," said UFCW's General Counsel John Bowen.

He agreed that the union now knows what happened to the people taken into custody last month, and all have been given a chance to seek bond.

"It appears that at this time, they've all been accounted for," Bowen said.

Union spokesman Dave Minshall said one of the benefits of the lawsuit is that ICE now knows someone is looking over their shoulder. He added, "Had the union not filed a lawsuit, ICE would have continued to operate in secret."

An estimated 60 to 80 individuals are still in federal custody. Many others volunteered to return to their home countries.

The workers were taken into custody as part of a federal raid at Swift plants in Colorado and five other states. Officials say they were cracking down on an identity-theft ring.

Union officials argue the raid was really aimed at rounding up illegal immigrants, and that some people left the country against their will.

Previous Stories:

* January 20, 2007: Bipartisan Group Of Senators To Meet On Immigration Raid
* January 18, 2007: Swift Cuts 58 From Corporate Staff
* January 12, 2007: Judge Demands To Know Whereabouts Of ICE Suspects
* January 11, 2007: Church Community Offers Help After Immigration Raid
* January 4, 2007: Swift Lost $30 Million From ICE Raids
* December 18, 2006: Former Swift Employees Sue, Alleging Wage Manipulation
* December 17, 2006: 75 Sent To Texas After Swift Raid Returning To Colorado
* December 14, 2006: ID Theft Suspects In ICE Raid Appear In Court
* December 13, 2006: Swift Raid Impacts Families, Economy, ID Theft Victims
* December 13, 2006: ICE Raid Draws Mixed Reviews
* December 13, 2006: Denver Archdiocese Reacts To ICE Raid
* December 12, 2006: ICE Raids Swift Plant; 800 Are Suspected Illegal Workers
* December 12, 2006: Swift Reacts To Nationwide Raids

"Stick a fork in it," added assistant U.S. attorney Mark Pestal. "The judge determined that the aliens were accorded all the rights and protections they were entitled to."

Please do!!!

Why is an american union protecting illegals? American union members should be really upset and let the leadership of the unions know how they feel.

Union spokesman Dave Minshall said one of the benefits of the lawsuit is that ICE now knows someone is looking over their shoulder. He added, "Had the union not filed a lawsuit, ICE would have continued to operate in secret."

An estimated 60 to 80 individuals are still in federal custody. Many others volunteered to return to their home countries.

The workers were taken into custody as part of a federal raid at Swift plants in Colorado and five other states. Officials say they were cracking down on an identity-theft ring.

Union officials argue the raid was really aimed at rounding up illegal immigrants, and that some people left the country against their will.

I cannot fathom ICE wanting to conduct a raid based on immigration violations. That is just absurd. Those poor hardworking immigrants had to leave the country against their will?? Those mean, nasty ICE agents. They should have contacted the UNITED WAY to have them all put up in hotels until all the hoopla died down. While they were waiting UNITED WAY should have put them in touch with the ACLU and some interpreters so they could sue the hell out of those mean ICE agents.

One for our side, about time!

Our country ....

has gotten completely out of conrol...

Unions supporting illegal workers... what a joke.

Unions supporting suppression of wages...

jaded, good for you, keep it up. My father died two years ago from COPD. No cigarette was worth his life, as far as his granchildren were concerned, we miss him.

Added to Home Page
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=N ... e&sid=1874

DENVER -- A federal judge has dismissed the union lawsuit against immigration officials which was filed following a raid at the Swift meatpacking plant in Greeley.

Way to go COLORADO!!!!!!

HIP HIP HURRAY!!!!!!!FINALLY A WIN!!!! GIVE THE JUDGE AN AWARD!!! :P