Thread: Lawsuit ; Immigration raid violated worker`s right`s

Lawsuit: Immigration raid violated workers' rights
By AMY LORENTZEN Associated Press Writer
Article Launched: 05/16/2008 12:13:18 PM MDT


DES MOINES, Iowa—The nation's largest single immigration raid, resulting in nearly 400 arrests earlier this week, violated the constitutional rights of workers at a meatpacking plant, a federal lawsuit says.
The lawsuit accuses the government of arbitrary and indefinite detention. It seeks to prevent the government from moving the arrested workers out-of-state as their cases wend through the system.

A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office said he couldn't comment on the lawsuit filed Thursday on behalf of about 147 of the workers rounded up Monday at an Agriprocessors Inc. meat processing plant.

The lawsuit was filed against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and several government officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.

Most of the arrested workers were held in local jails. The suit notes that other raids have seen detainees transferred for detention far from attorneys, making it difficult to work on their cases.

An attorney who interviewed detainees learned that Agriprocessors obtained false identification for immigrant workers, improperly withheld money from employees' paychecks for "immigration fees," did not allow workers to use the restroom during 10-hour shifts, physically abused workers and didn't compensate them for overtime work, according to the lawsuit.

As victims of alleged crimes, the workers would be eligible for certain visas that would let them gain legal status,

the suit said. Some of the arrested workers have spouses and children that are U.S. citizens and could be eligible for immigration relief because of their family ties, according to the suit.
The suit noted that a number of immigrant workers' children have been stranded with baby sitters and other caretakers as a result of the raid.

Telephone messages left for lawyers who filed the lawsuit weren't immediately returned.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/nationworld/ci_9283308

An attorney who interviewed detainees learned that Agriprocessors obtained false identification for immigrant workers, improperly withheld money from employees' paychecks for "immigration fees," did not allow workers to use the restroom during 10-hour shifts, physically abused workers and didn't compensate them for overtime work, according to the lawsuit.

As victims of alleged crimes, the workers would be eligible for certain visas that would let them gain legal status,

You've got to be kidding me.

violated the constitutional rights of workers at a meatpacking plant, a federal lawsuit says.

HAHAHA those "workers" are in violation of several FEDERAL laws which clearly state that illegal aliens are not permitted to work in the US. Using stolen & fake ID to get work is also a FEDERAL violation.
From what I understand, EVERY one of those detained were in possession of stolen or fake ID and were working illegally.

As victims of alleged crimes, the workers would be eligible for certain visas that would let them gain legal status,

How would they be eligible if they were caught in criminal activity? Sorry, that don't work for me.

Originally Posted by MW

An attorney who interviewed detainees learned that Agriprocessors obtained false identification for immigrant workers, improperly withheld money from employees' paychecks for "immigration fees," did not allow workers to use the restroom during 10-hour shifts, physically abused workers and didn't compensate them for overtime work, according to the lawsuit.

As victims of alleged crimes, the workers would be eligible for certain visas that would let them gain legal status,

You've got to be kidding me.

They didn't raise objections to work conditions until they were caught red-handed. They are NOT victims--they are co-conspirators and accessories! Now they seek money and to turn this raid to their advantage for legal status.

By this rational, drug dealers are 'victims' of drug cartels and do work that places them in danger so therefore sue the law enforcement agency that arrests them
Prostitues are 'victims' of pimps, drug dealers and customers so sue the law enforcement agency that arrests them.

What consulate helped with this lawsuit--Omaha's Mexican consulate?
One of it's purposes is an action to delay deportations.


The lawyers don't want these illegal aliens shipped out of state because then the illegal aliens would have new lawyers and the present lawyers would miss out on fees from a class action suit. Deport these illegal aliens before their class action suit--let the lawyers travel to foreign countries to speak to their clients.

Ohhhhh........I'll bet that this has everything to do with conducting the raid even though the Union had tried to persuade them not to.

Bet on it.......next we'll be seeing the lawyers and Union claiming that the raid was carried out as retaliation for the workers trying to unionize.



Union had asked authorities not to raid plant

By WILLIAM PETROSKI and NIGEL DUARA • Register Staff Writers • May 12, 2008

A union trying to organize Postville meatpacking workers had asked federal immigration authorities earlier this month not to raid the Agriprocessors Inc. plant while a government investigation was underway of possible labor law violations.

Mark Lauritsen, international vice president of the United Food and Commercial Workers, wrote a May 2 letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, advising officials of an ongoing labor dispute at the Postville plant.

Lauritsen said he was concerned that any potential ICE action could have a "chilling effect" on the existing workforce which has reported some Agriprocessors’ workplace violations in the past. In addition, ICE action could result in employees leaving the plant, interfering with a government investigation that would “ultimately uncover unscrupulous employer acts,â€